No starting quarterback, no starting running back and a 14-point, second-half deficit?
No problem, not for this resilient bunch of Demons.
Durango, without the services of key cogs Jeremy Szura and Tyler Worley, rallied from a 27-13 deficit and won a 34-33 overtime thriller over Grand Junction in its Southwestern League opener Friday at DHS Stadium.
The Demons (5-1, 1-0 SWL) even trailed in the overtime. Grand Junction took just one play to score on a 10-yard pass from Tyler Heinsma to Theron Verna for a 33-27 lead.
DHS, however, blocked the extra point, setting the stage for the victory.
David Logan, a transfer from Las Vegas seeing his first action this season after sitting out per transfer rules, scored his fourth touchdown of the night on a 4-yard run. And Blake Dunlap drilled the extra point to send the DHS faithful into a frenzy.
“That’s just been us all year,” DHS head coach David Vogt said. “We’ve been resilient. We’re not scared of anybody. Our work in the weight room this offseason has really made us a physical team, and that’s what we really bring.”
The Demons’ offense, held to just 87 first-half yards, broke free in the second half behind Logan, who finished with 211 yards on 24 carries and four scores, all of which came after halftime.
Grand Junction, up 20-6 at the half, actually recovered a muffed squib kick to open the half, but Alex Steiner missed a 28-yard field goal to negate the damage.
Two plays later, Logan broke free for an 80-yard touchdown to trim the lead to 20-13.
“He was the difference in the game,” Vogt said. “Us being able to run, the offensive line did a great job blocking. He did a great job running. It was just great execution. Coaches made some good changes at halftime.”
Grand Junction (5-2, 1-1 SWL) answered with Dion Martinez’s second touchdown run of the night from a yard out for a 27-13 edge with 2:53 to play.
Logan, running behind an invigorated DHS offensive line, had another response, scoring from 44 yards out on the first play of the fourth quarter to trim the Tigers’ edge to seven, 27-20.
After a Tigers’ punt, Logan plunged in from a yard out to tie the score.
“It wasn’t easy,” said Logan, son of David and Lisa Logan. “My line, they did everything for me; they gave me some holes.
“After five games of not playing, it all built up, and finally, I had to let it all go.”
DHS had a chance to win in regulation after recovering a fumble at the Grand Junction 33 with 4 minutes, 26 seconds left. But Dunlap’s 30-yard field goal went awry.
Steiner, however, missed a desperation 50-yard attempt with 7 seconds left after the DHS defense held despite allowing a 43-yard pass from Heinsma to Kaleb Johnson, setting the tone for the overtime.
The DHS defense held the Demons in the game long enough for the rally, forcing a pair of turnovers and keeping Grand Junction nearly two touchdowns shy of its 46-point average.
“Our defense, I thought, was what won us the game, especially,” Logan said.
Terrence Trujillo stepped in for Szura at quarterback for the Demons, completing 6-of-9 passes for 62 yards, including a 22-yard touchdown pass to Dunlap in the first half.
Heinsma was 16-of-24 for 226 yards and a touchdown through the air and ran for 134 more and a pair of scores, both in the first half.
The Tigers, however, were done in by 16 penalties, several of which were of the 15-yard variety.
The thrilling victory sets DHS up for its homecoming game against Grand Junction Central at 7 p.m. Friday at DHS Stadium.
This week’s impression, however, may last a while.
“I think this is the biggest game we’ve ever played, and this is just a huge win for us,” Logan said.
rowens@durangoherald.com
