While the fourth- and sixth-grade teams took the Labor Day holiday weekend off, three other youth football teams put on the pads and got to work.
Week 4 of the Young America Football League season saw two Durango teams cruise to victory, while another came oh-so-close before falling by one point in overtime.
Durango’s third-grad squad remained undefeated with a 27-12 win against rival Bayfield. The potent running attack of Antonio Martinez, Cooper Mitchell and Logan Goodwin continued, as Martinez gained 101 yards and Mitchell and Goodwin each scored two touchdowns. Mitchell also recorded a safety on defense, while Zane Pontine and Archer McCroskey each had six tackles. McCroskey also gobbled up a fumble recovery. The Demons’ perfect record will be put to the test at 3 p.m. Saturday against Aztec.
Durango’s second-grade team went on the road and trounced Kirtland 33-0. The win improved the team’s record to 2-1. KJ Reynolds led a Durango defense that silenced Kirtland for the team’s first shutout of the year. The team’s offensive line of Lazaro Alires, Kole Burns, Keenan Canterbury, Daniel Latham and Mason Miller helped pave the way for five touchdowns. Tyler Dugan, Grady Feeney, Jerad Lopez and Elijah Huerta all ran for scores. Feeney also hit Blaze Aguilar for a touchdown pass, while Tyler Hoerl scored the extra point. The second-grades will look to continue a winning streak when they face Kirtland again, this time at home at 11 a.m. Saturday.
The closest game of the week came at fifth-grade, where the Demons fell 20-19 in overtime. Durango jumped out to a 13-0 lead at halftime, but Bloomfield tied the game with 1 minute, 48 seconds to play in regulation. Tyler Harms gave Durango a 19-13 lead with an eight-yard scamper on the first possession of overtime, but the extra point try failed. Bloomfield then drove down the field and scored a touchdown of its own and converted the extra point for a one-point win. Durango’s second touchdown of the game came on a 59-yard pass from Harms to Jacob Roberts. Brett Hamer had the other Demons touchdown. Ivan Rodriguez led the defense with nine tackles and a fumble recovery, while Connor McCroskey added nine tackles. Durango will try to get back on the winning track with an extra week of practice before its next game.
Durango’s fourth- and sixth-grade teams had a bye over the weekend. The fourth-graders will play at 9 a.m. Saturday against Aztec, while the sixth-graders will face the Farmington Panthers at home at 1 p.m. Saturday.
heraldsports@durangoherald.com
