The Durango youth football fourth-grade team lost a tough battle in the Youth Area Football League Championship game to Aztec on Saturday, 13-7.
Durango previously beat Aztec in the regular season, 18-7, but struggled to find an offensive rhythm in the championship game, scoring only one touchdown, on a 55-yard run from Tobias Romero, and an extra point run from Jay Paulek.
Penalties hampered Durango’s offense throughout the game. The Durango defense had several strong stands to hold Aztec to only two touchdowns, a team which regularly scored 40 points a game during the regular season.
The Demons finish the year 8-1 overall, and look forward to returning to the title game next season. The team included: Sawyer Sigle, Malcolm Rodriguez, Kane Tucson, Colton Ludeman, Carter Lopez, Jameson Green, Noah Leos, Braxton Ernst, Sabre Johnson, Ezekiel Plate, Brantley Bourne, Jacoby Thompson, Starsun Canuto, Kamden Bates, Calvin Kirkpatrick, Eduardo Jimenez Jr., Grant White, Austin Peterson, Colt Bartel, Terran Sutherlin, Cruz Bickel, Julian Garcia, Curtis Whalen, Dominic Caton, Romero and Paulek. The team is incredibly grateful for the excellent coaching from Head Coach Rustin Bartel and the entire coaching staff, and for the support of the parents and community, YAFL said.
