Time to put the head down and move on.
The Durango High School football team came ever so close to a road win over No. 1 Montrose last week, falling 14-10 after leading 10-0 and having a goal-to-go opportunity in the final four minutes go just by the wayside.
The loss kept No. 7 DHS from an outright Southwestern League title and sent the Demons to 7-2 overall. But, with the sting of the defeat dissipating thanks to a new week of practice, there’s a new focus.
“I think it more gave us drive than perspective,” said offensive lineman Skyler Dobbs, son of Naomi and Steve Dobbs. “It gave us something to strive for to beat everybody we meet, to push them off the ball.”
On Friday, Montezuma-Cortez (3-6) comes to town for Durango’s senior night. And after the game with the Panthers is done with, the playoffs loom, a field to which Durango will return after missing out last year for the first time in four seasons.
With the second season on the horizon, Friday’s contest provides an opportunity to work out the kinks before reaching the one-and-done phase.
“Just the little things technique-wise, just got to get that done, makes a big difference,” said offensive lineman Trevor Rymerson, son of Dawn and Rick Rymerson.
The key for head coach David Vogt is seeing his squad tighten up the fundamentals. A little mistake here, a missed assignment there could be the difference come playoff time between a win and a trip to the next round or a loss and the end of the season.
“We can compete with the top team in the state. We were good enough to win. If we execute a little better, shoot, that game’s different,” Vogt said.
The Demons also sit fourth in playoff points after last week, and while a win over a Class 3A team with three wins won’t do much to boost the number, a loss would be far more damaging.
And a win over the Panthers could do enough to ensure the Demons stick around town next week for a rare occurrence – a home playoff game. And a home playoff game would be yet another impressive accomplishment for a team on the outside looking in just a year ago.
“That’s a big thing. We haven’t had a home playoff game here in awhile,” said offensive lineman Jonathan Yagunich, son of Erika and John Jagunich. “Just being in front of our home crowd just motivates us enough to do a little better.”
rowens@durangoherald.com
