Playoffs are quickly approaching, and every game matters down the stretch for Durango’s Young America Football League teams.
Week 5 brought more excitement and memorable action, as Durango’s teams went a perfect 4-0.
In a battle of previously unbeaten teams, the sixth-grade Durango Demons secured a narrow 10-7 victory against the archrival Farmington Panthers. Durango got on the board first with a safety on a tackle for a big loss by AJ Folk. A 40-yard Farmington run gave the Panthers a halftime lead, but the Demons imposed their will in the second half. Josh Bates had two sacks from his defensive line position, and Nate Pinto recorded three tackles for a loss. The stingy defense was rewarded by the offense, as Jeric Baruch broke free on a 35-yard touchdown run with 1 minute, 20 seconds to play in the third quarter. The Demons locked up the game with yet another safety, as Baruch tackled a Farmington player in the end zone for another two points.
The DHS sixth-graders will play at 9 a.m. Saturday at Cortez.
The fourth-grade Demons won a wild 26-19 game against the Aztec Apes. Cole Pontine scored twice in the first half to give the Demons a 12-6 lead at the break. An Aztec touchdown and an extra point tilted the game in the Apes’ favor at the end of the third quarter, but Pontine’s third touchdown and a Ryan Dugan extra point gave Durango a 19-13 lead. Aztec would tie the game on its next drive, but the Demons wouldn’t be denied a win. Dugan scored on a fourth-down play, and the Demons converted the extra point on a beautiful catch by J.T. Neubert on a pass from Linkin Griego to give Durango the win.
The fourth-grade Demons will look to keep their undefeated season going at 1 p.m. Saturday in Farmington against the Montezuma Creek Roughnecks.
Durango’s third-graders also remained perfect this season with a 19-0 shutout of Aztec. Antonio Martinez rushed for 57 yards and a touchdown, while Cooper Mitchell had 53 yards. Nathan Beal and Braden Brown also scored touchdowns for Durango. Mitchell led the defense with six tackles, and Martinez had five. Zane Pontine came up with four tackles and a fumble recovery.
The “Demon Express” will look to keep its roll going at 11 a.m. Saturday at Cortez.
The second-grade team continued a winning streak with a 30-0 shutout of Kirtland. The defense rarely surrendered a first down and scored on a Grady Feeney interception returned 55 yards for a touchdown. The pick-6 was set up by the smothering defense of Jared Lopez and Keenan Canterbury, who is known by fans as “Baby Von Miller.”
Blaze Agular torched the Kirtland defense but had two long touchdown runs called back by penalties. Still, nothing could deny a 30-yard touchdown catch and run by Aguilar on a pass by Feeney. Tyler Hoerl also made a highlight-reel catch in traffic for a key third-down conversion.
Canterbury also saw some time at quarterback and scored on a 35-yard run. Feeney added two rushing touchdowns, as Tyler Dugan paved the way with pancake blocks. The second-grade team will look to keep it going with an 11 a.m. Saturday game at Bloomfield.
The fifth-grade Demons were off last week but will return to the field this week with a 9 a.m. Saturday game at Bayfield.
heraldsports@durangoherald.com
