As it was most of the season, the Demons’ seniors were the center of attention on and off the football field Friday night for senior night at Durango High School.
The 19 DHS seniors were honored before the game and proceeded to have their way with Rampart (5-5, 1-4 Pikes Peak League) in a 48-6 blowout to close out a nearly perfect regular season.
Durango senior quarterback Terrence Trujillo was efficient yet again, going 14-of-18 for 135 yards. He threw four touchdown passes – two to senior Lucas Baken, one to senior Kyle Duran and one to senior Lawrence Mayberry.
Mayberry also had a rushing touchdown, his 14th of the season, in the win.
“I told the guys to make sure that this is a statement game for the rest of the state to see,” Durango head coach David Vogt said. “We didn’t want to run around people, we wanted to run them over and we did, so that was good.”
The Class 4A No. 5 Demons (9-1, 4-1 PPL) didn’t waste any time doing what they’ve done well all season. On the first offensive possession, Trujillo found Baken open in the end zone on a post route for a 20-yard touchdown.
“This is so important to us,” said Baken, son of Dante and Jessica Baken. “Your whole life you hear that hard work pays off, and it really has for us. Terrence and I have been working toward this since fifth grade, and this year we’ve done great things.”
Rampart moved the ball on the first two possessions and got deep into Durango territory, but a failed fourth down attempt and a missed field goal kept the Rams off the scoreboard.
After some success running the ball on their first two drives, the Rams were stymied by Laitham Johnson, Jack Madden, Sterling Worley and the rest of the Demons defense in the second quarter, which was a big quarter for the home team.
While the defense stepped up the pressure, the Demons’ offense found a rhythm.
Early in the quarter, Trujillo hit Mayberry on a screen pass, and the shifty back weaved through the Rampart defense for a 17-yard touchdown to give Durango a 14-0 lead.
Following freshman Dawson Marcum’s interception, Trujillo’s third touchdown pass of the first half came later in the quarter when he scrambled to his right and threw across his body to a wide open Duran for a 15-yard touchdown to give the Demons a commanding lead.
The seniors didn’t do all the work on senior night, though. Sophomore Gavin Mestas had a game to remember and gave the hometown faithful a glimpse of what’s to come down the road.
Mestas was a nightmare for the Rams to contain on special teams. In the second quarter, he took a punt, busted through the Rams pursuit and returned it 68 yards for a touchdown.
He wasn’t finished.
Mestas took the second-half kickoff and ran 98 yards untouched for his second touchdown of the game.
“We’ve been working on kick returns a lot lately,” said Mestas, son of Gary and Malaika Mestas. “It paid off, and I couldn’t have done it without the guys blocking in front of me. The seniors have taught the rest of us so much. I’m just happy to help and be a part of this family.”
The rest of the evening was more of the same from the Durango seniors. Trujillo found Baken again for an 8-yard touchdown pass, their second hookup of the night and 14th of the season. Defensive back James Brennan added an interception, the defense’s third takeaway of the night. Mayberry busted a 34-yard touchdown run to put him over 100 yards rushing for the ninth time in 10 games. He finished with 104 rushing yards on only 12 carries.
This group of Durango seniors lost only one game, and it came at the hands of No. 1 and two-time defending state champion Pine Creek, which has now won 35 games in a row.
“We’ve had a heck of a run this year, but we’re not done yet,” Vogt said. “We’re treating this like it’s the end of a season and we’re going into another brand new season. All we’re hoping for is a home game.”
The Demons will find out their postseason fate Sunday when the Colorado High School Activities Association releases its 4A playoff bracket.
jfries@durangoherald.com
