Peyton Woolverton of Durango High School put on a show Saturday with 234 passing yards, three passing touchdowns and two rushing scores.
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Gavin Mestas made big plays on special teams and in the receiving game. He had two receiving touchdowns, a fake punt run and a 72-yard punt return.
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Dakota Padoven of Durango High School made life tough for Sierra quarterback Andre Clemon in a shutout Saturday.
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Five Sierra High School players participated in a national protest by kneeling during the national anthem before a game against Durango High School on Saturday.
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Durango High School waits to ring the bell while playing Sierra High School at DHS on Saturday. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herlad
Durango High Schoo players take a kne for an injured Colorado Springs Sierra High School on Saturday at DHS. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herlad
Dakota Padoven of Durango High School rushes quarterback Andre Clemon of Colorado Springs Sierra High School on Saturday at DHS. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herlad
Durango The Durango High School Band plays during the Colorado Springs Sierra High School game on Saturday at DHS. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herlad
A Durango High School receiver almost brings in a pass while playing Colorado Springs Sierra High School on Saturday at DHS. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herlad
Peyton Woolverton of Durango High School puts up a throw while playing Colorado Springs Sierra High School on Saturday at DHS. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herlad
Weston Simmons of Durango High School brings in a pass while playing Colorado Springs Sierra High School on Saturday at DHS. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herlad
Gavin Mestas of Durango High School brings in a pass for a touchdown while playing Colorado Springs Sierra High School on Saturday at DHS. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herlad
Durango High School takes the field before playing Colorado Springs Sierra High School on Saturday at DHS. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herlad
Durango High School fans stand for the National Anthem before playing Colorado Springs Sierra High School on Saturday at DHS. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herlad
Durango High School takes the field before playing Colorado Springs Sierra High School on Saturday at DHS. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herlad
Colorado Springs Sierra High School players support the national protest of not standing for the National Anthem before playing Durango High School on Saturday at DHS. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herlad
Jordan Shefferd of Durango High School Tradarius Jackson of Colorado Springs Sierra High School on Saturday at DHS. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herlad
Durango High School stops Colorado Springs Sierra High School on Saturday at DHS. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herlad
The Durango High School Band plays during the Colorado Springs Sierra High School game on Saturday at DHS. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herlad
Riggs Bardin of Durango High School kicks an extra point while playing Colorado Springs Sierra High School on Saturday at DHS. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herlad
Everett Howland of Durango High School sacks quarterback Andre Clemons of Colorado Springs Sierra High School on Saturday at DHS. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herlad
Durango High School celebrates a touchdown during the Colorado Springs Sierra High School game on Saturday at DHS. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herlad
Durango High School quarterback Peyton Woolverton runs in for a touchdown during the Colorado Springs Sierra High School game on Saturday at DHS. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herlad
Dawson Marcum of Durango High School makes a move and escapes during the Colorado Springs Sierra High School game on Saturday at DHS. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herlad
The Durango High School football team built some momentum in the second half of last week’s tough loss to Pueblo East, and the Demons’ positive mojo was bad news for winless Sierra on Saturday.
Durango picked up where it left off after nearly completing a remarkable comeback last week, and Sierra was the unfortunate team stuck on the tracks as the DHS train rolled through.
Durango senior quarterback Peyton Woolverton was sharp again, Gavin Mestas had three touchdowns, and the defense pitched a shutout in Saturday’s 46-0 romp of the Stallions from Colorado Springs.
“Our strategy was to win the game up front, and I think we did that on both sides of the ball,” Durango head coach David Vogt said. “It was fun. We haven’t had many games where we could play all the guys and try some different things, so it was good to get some confidence going for everyone.”
DHS (4-3, 1-1 3A South Central League) wasted no time grabbing the lead as Woolverton’s run from five yards out gave the host a 6-0 lead. The score was set up by a 29-yard pass to Gavin Mestas, who played a major role in the next score.
After Mestas’ fake punt run on a fourth-and-four play kept the next scoring drive alive, the junior wide receiver was on the receiving end of a 44-yard TD pass from Woolverton that gave DHS a 12-0 lead.
Sierra’s offense moved the ball some in the first half, but 12 penalties in the opening 24 minutes – and an extra motivated Demons defense – stymied possession after possession.
Collin Barkley, Jake Bourdon and company on defense put the clamps on the Stallions’ running game, and the secondary bottled up Sierra’s main threat on the outside in Tradarius Jackson.
“Shutout always feels good,” said Bourdon, son of Amy and Rob Bourdon. It’s our goal every week, and we can’t lose if we put up a goose egg.”
Bourdon wasn’t only a threat on defense, his 16-yard TD catch gave the Demons a 19-0 lead at halftime.
Woolverton’s 21-yard TD run on the first possession of the second half extended the lead. Mestas’ 72-yard punt return and a 30-yard TD catch later in the third quarter gave the Demons a 39-0 edge and capped off an impressive performance for the DHS offense.
Woolverton finished 11-of-16 for 234 yards and three TDs in the air, and added two TDs on the ground.
“We just came out like any other game and tried to play our game at the highest level,” said Woolverton, son of Kathleen and Ryan Woolverton. “No matter who we play, that’s the effort and intensity we need to have.”
Max Hyson took over at quarterback and added to his already successful offensive performance. He finished the day with 109 yards and a TD on the ground and added 37 receiving yards and 16 passing yards.
“It was awesome to finally get everyone in there,” said Hyson, son of Cole and Jennifer Hyson. “We were fired up at the start of this one. It was nice to take care of business and see some of the younger guys get a chance.”
Before the game, five Sierra players took a knee for the national anthem. Hyson and Woolverton admitted there was a bit of added motivation because of the symbolic protest that has become a trend from the NFL on down to the amateur level.
“Everyone has a right, and if they want to take a knee that’s their choice,” Woolverton said. “They have the freedom to do that, and we have nothing against it. We choose to stand up for the people who have fought for our country to have these freedoms.”
Durango will go back on the road next week to play Pueblo Central.
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