The class 3A state championship bracket for football has finally been unveiled, with the Durango Demons getting a home game against Mead in the first round.
After going 8-1 in the regular season, the No. 4 seeded Demons will play No. 13 seeded Mead at 1 p.m. Saturday.
Durango head coach Matt Burton said he wasn’t surprised by the Demons’ seeding. He said they were in position to get the No. 3 seed but after now No. 3 seed Thompson Valley got a big win last Friday, Durango dropped a seed. It didn’t help the Demons that they played only nine games after a game was canceled.
This isn’t the first matchup between Durango and Mead. The two squads faced off on Sept. 22 at Mead with the Demons leaving victorious 30-16.
“It's always hard to beat the same team twice in one year, right,” Burton said. “They're a different team altogether. I would say they won four of their last five. They played three top 15 ranked teams in the last five games and they're going to be a better football team because of it.”
In the previous matchup, Durango got out to a 16-6 halftime lead and was able to keep Mead at arm’s length the rest of the game.
Demons senior quarterback Tyler Harms completed 14 of 18 passes for 183 yards and a touchdown. Harms also rushed for 44 yards and a touchdown on the ground.
“The playoffs aren't anything new for him,” Burton said of Harms. “Even at quarterback, this is his third year to be the starting quarterback and he's got a lot of experience, a lot more than a lot of these other players that he’s playing with. If he just keeps doing what he's been doing we’ll be just fine.”
Although Mead’s quarterback Christian Hiner threw 41 times in the previous matchup, Burton thinks Mead could run the ball more on Saturday to dominate more possessions. He said Mead has put in a different quarterback to run the ball and it has been effective.
Durango has been better lately on the defensive side of the ball. In its last game, the Demons shutout Palisade and caused four turnovers. Durango has allowed only seven points in its last three games.
“To start the year there weren’t that many guys, especially on defense, that were returning starters,” Burton said. “It took them a while to gel but they've gelled and they're playing as a team. They're playing for each other. Those are the results you're going to get.”
The winner of the Durango vs. Mead game will play the winner of No. 5 seed Lutheran vs. No. 12 seed Frederick on either Nov. 17 or 18.
bkelly@durangoherald.com
