Tis’ the season for playoff football. That means no days off for the few remaining teams ahead of this weekend’s state semifinals.
It was a early morning practice with the Durango High School football family Thursday morning before the Demons joined their families for Thanksgiving. It was a light, fun practice as No. 3 Durango (6-0) prepared for No. 2 Holy Family (7-0) in the Colorado High School Activities Association Class 3A State Football Playoffs semifinals. The game is scheduled for noon Saturday in Broomfield.
“It was good to practice and be with everyone today,” said DHS senior lineman Rocco Estes, who said he was most looking forward to sweet potatoes later in the day. “I love spending time with these kids. We have played together since third grade. It’s crazy to still be playing with them, so it feels good being able to spend today together. We are stronger and closer than we have ever been, and everyone is giving it all they have right now.”
Durango senior quarterback and safety Jordan Woolverton grew up watching NFL football on Thanksgiving while sneaking outside to throw the football with his father, Ryan, and older brother, Peyton. To be able to play this year with serious intent was something he had dreamed of as a kid.
“This is my first time ever practicing with the guys on Thanksgiving. It felt so good,” said Woolverton, who said stuffing is his favorite side dish. “It was a lot of fun out there. I am thankful for every single guy on the team, and it felt so good to spend the morning with them and share our love as teammates. I am grateful to be out there playing with a purpose.”
Fun and focus were the key words Thursday. Some players wore holiday themed pajama bottoms during the shoulder pads and helmets practice. Senior Ben Finneseth was allowed to bring a speaker to play music. Estes said the team plays better when it is having fun, and DHS head coach David Vogt said the music added to the atmosphere without taking away from preparation.
“On Thursday practices, if we mess up we do it over until we get it right. Today, we only did that once,” Vogt said. “It was a really good, smooth practice.
“It’s really cool to be practicing on Thanksgiving. I never have had the chance to do it as a coach. Even in high school, my teams always came one week away from doing it. Not a lot of teams get to do it, so it is a special thing.”
Vogt chatted with coach Steve Thyfault after Thursday’s practice. Durango hasn’t been to the state semifinals since 1997, when Thyfault was the head coach. During Thyfault’s days ruling the Demons’ sideline, it was a tradition that parents brought pumpkin pie to Thanksgiving practice, and the team would come together after the session and eat pie together. The goal was to eat pumpkin pie every year.
It’s been a difficult task for DHS over the last 23 years with several quarterfinal losses, including three in the last five years. But this Demons team believes it can reach a title game for the first time since 1988.
“It’s a big game Saturday. We are practicing so we can leave no regrets on the field,” said DHS senior linebacker Thomas Barnes, who was looking past the main course Thursday and ahead to the pumpkin pie dessert. “We have to make every practice and snap count, and we did that today. Now, I am ready to be with family. I wish the Broncos were playing today, but we are excited to get home, watch football and celebrate the blessing of having a healthy family.”
jlivingston@durangoherald.com
