Homecoming week is just a bit more meaningful for the Durango High School boys soccer side this season.
The Demons began the year with six games on the Front Range before they played five more in a row on the road, including the first four games of Southwestern League play.
Finally, after five weeks of travel, the Demons will host a game.
“Our boys are super-excited to just be in front of friends and family and show them how hard they’ve worked over the last five to six weeks,” DHS head coach Dalon Parker said. “I think it’s really special.”
DHS (8-2-1, 3-1 SWL) will host Fruita Monument (1-6, 0-2-2 SWL) at 3 p.m. Friday at the Riverview Sports Complex. The Demons already own a 3-1 victory this year at Fruita, but Parker wants to make sure his team doesn’t get caught looking past the Wildcats before Saturday’s big showdown with No. 5 Montrose (8-2, 4-0 SWL).
“It’s one game at a time, nothing more, nothing less. First we take care of Fruita, then we take care of Montrose,” Parker said.
Montrose will enter the game at 2 p.m. Saturday at Riverview Sports Complex with fresh legs after being idle Friday when the Demons will host Fruita Monument. Parker isn’t worried about any fatigue factor, especially in the biggest game of the season.
“This is something we’re used to. We’ve had three games in one week, two games after eight hours traveling. These boys have been put through every traveling obstacle, every dilemma as far as getting off the bus and playing,” Parker said. “It doesn’t really matter if we play Fruita first. We’re going to be ready no matter what, and we know what’s at stake.”
DHS boasts one of the best young talents in the state in freshman forward Elijah Fenton, who has 28 points on a team-high 11 goals and six assists this season. Senior captain Tony Williams also has five goals to go with 10 assists for DHS.
But Parker said the team’s success hasn’t come from one or two players.
“Our major key to success has been our major family mentality. That’s actually what spearheaded our success, is the common fact that everyone has bought into one goal, one speed, one direction,” Parker said. “When you get a bunch of teenage boys to buy in, you have a smooth offensive and defensive transition.”
Also helping the DHS attack are juniors Vance Bulen, who has five goals and four assists, and Nick Jernigan, who also is in double-figure points with four goals and two assists.
Montrose is led by senior Brayden Reese, who has nine goals on 20 shots, as well as six assists for a total of 24 points.
Between the posts, the Indians have senior Keegan Sullinger, who has five shutouts in 10 games.
“Montrose is a blue-collar town with blue-collar kids. That’s one thing you know about a Montrose team: They can be down 3-0 or 2-1, and they’re never going to stop working,” Parker said. “They’re just a good, fundamental soccer team that works extremely hard.”
DHS senior goalkeeper Lars Schwaebe is 6-1-1 in goal and has three shutouts for the Demons.
“Lars has been a great safety net for us. He’s come through when we needed him,” Parker said. “He’s a major piece of our puzzle. He’s a great keeper.”
Saturday’s game is a big chance for the Demons to get back into favor with the Front Range coaches and playoff selection committee. The Demons have fallen all the way to No. 18 in the MaxPreps.com poll after peaking at No. 5 this season. Air Academy currently is No. 1, and the Kadets own a 4-0 win against the Demons at the Kadet Classic tournament earlier this season.
“A win against Montrose would help us a lot. At the time we lost to them, they were No. 2. If we can end up beating a top-five team in the state, it makes our résumé look good, especially for what all we’ve done this season.
“If we could only get one loss in league, that has to say a lot, too.”
jlivingston@durangoherald.com. Durango Herald sports writer Kyle Grabowski contributed to this report.
