Zach Russell of Fort Lewis catches a touchdown while playing Arizona Christian at FLC on Saturday in the team’s season opener. (Jerry McBride/Durango Herald)
Saturday was a busy day for teams from La Plata County and, unfortunately, many came up short in their contests.
The Durango High School volleyball and boys soccer teams were the exceptions.
Eva Stewart of Durango High School sets up Sarah Somrak for an attack while playing Fruita Monument on Saturday at DHS. The Demons prevailed, 3-0. (Cody Olivas/Durango Herald)
DHS volleyball won its second Southwestern League game in two days, beating Fruita Monument in straight sets at home, 25-23, 25-23 and 25-19. Three Demons recorded double-digit kills against the Wildcats, including Leah Wolf (14), Aava Dreger (11) and Sarah Somrak (10).
The Demons are now 6-2 overall.
The DHS boys soccer team, meanwhile, followed its 10-0 rout over Grand Junction Central on Thursday with a 2-0 win over Grand Junction on Saturday to improve to 7-0. Charles Gleason scored three goals for DHS in its win over Central while Lucas Foster and Teryk Webber scored against the Tigers.
Carter Cameron of Fort Lewis College sacks the quarterback while playing Arizona Christian at FLC on Saturday. (Jerry McBride/Durango Herald)
On the football field, Fort Lewis battled Arizona Christian University to start its season at home. After ACU jumped out to a 21-0 lead in the first, FLC fought back and made things interesting for a bit. Quarterback Braden Wingle threw an 18-yard touchdown pass to Zach Russell.
Then, after Max Hyson sacked Arizona Christian’s quarterback, the Skyhawks blocked a punt out of the end zone for a safety, making the score 21-9.
Later in the first half, lineman James Reyes intercepted a pass after a teammate tipped the throw, giving FLC the ball at Arizona’s 9-yard line and a chance to make it a one-score game.
Unfortunately for the Skyhawks, Wingle was picked off on third down and Arizona Christian pulled away to eventually win the game, 52-12.
Lincoln Williams of Bayfield High School finds a hole to run through while playing Moffat County on Saturday at BHS. (Cody Olivas/Durango Herald)
In Bayfield, the Wolverines welcomed Moffat County’s football team to town. Quarterback Deegan Barnes scored on Bayfield first possession to put BHS up, 7-0. Moffat scored the next two touchdowns and led 12-7 at halftime. The Wolverines, however, marched 74 yards down the field to start the second half. Barnes completed a 33-yard pass to Granite Truby and scored a rushing touchdown on the next play. Keaton Pickering caught the two-point try in the end zone and Bayfield surged back in front, 15-12. Later in the third, Moffat answered with a 10-yard rushing touchdown to go ahead, 18-15, and the score stayed there.
The Bayfield volleyball team traveled to Monument for the Lewis-Palmer Invitational. BHS played Ralston Valley first, but came up short, 25-15, 25-20. The Wolverines then faced Platte Valley (Kersey), but fell again, 25-14 and 25-18. Bayfield then lost to Coronado (Colorado Springs), 3-1, and were set to play in the tournament’s 11th-place game.
Ignacio was also playing in a tough volleyball tournament at Denver Christian, but lost its first two matches. IHS fell to Holyoke, 25-16, 25-17 and 25-19. IHS then lost to Vail Mountain, 25-18, 25-22 and 25-20 to dip into the tournament’s seventh-place game.
The Fort Lewis College volleyball welcomed fourth-ranked Metropolitan State University Denver to town and swiped a set from the Roadrunners on the newly redesigned court at Whalen Gymnasium. After losing the first two sets, 25-22 and 25-11, the Skyhawks rallied and won a set against the perennial power for the first time since 2014, 25-20.
MSU responded with a 25-13 win in the fourth set to take the match, 3-1.
Peyton Monson of Fort Lewis College goes for the ball while playing Arizona Christian at FLC. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Jerry McBride
Fort Lewis College plays defense against Arizona Christian at FLC. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Jerry McBride
Carter Cameron of Fort Lewis College makes a tackle while playing Arizona Christian at FLC. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Jerry McBride
Fort Lewis quarterback Braden Wingle looks for a receiver while playing Arizona Christian at FLC. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Jerry McBride
Carter Cameron of Fort Lewis College sacks Arizona Christian’s quarterback on Saturday at FLC. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Jerry McBride
Josiah Flores of Fort Lewis tries to break up a pass while playing Arizona Christian at FLC. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Jerry McBride
Drake Cortez of Fort Lewis makes a catch while playing Arizona Christian at FLC. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Jerry McBride
Keegan Hagger of Fort Lewis kicks an extra point while playing Arizona Christian at FLC. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Jerry McBride
Noa Lukela of Fort Lewis takes a handoff while playing Arizona Christian at FLC. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Jerry McBride
Zach Russell of Fort Lewis makes a catch while playing Arizona Christian at FLC. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Jerry McBride
Matthew Waid of Fort Lewis punts the ball while playing Arizona Christian at FLC. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Jerry McBride
Fort Lewis quarterback Jordan Brown looks for a receiver while playing Arizona Christian at FLC. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Jerry McBride
Fort Lewis College players take the field on Saturday while playing Arizona Christian at FLC. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Jerry McBride
Dylan Holt of Fort Lewis College makes a catch while playing Arizona Christian at FLC. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Jerry McBride
Fort Lewis College head coach Johnny Cox talks with an official on Saturday while playing Arizona Christian at FLC. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Jerry McBride
Zach Russell of Fort Lewis catches a touchdown while playing Arizona Christian at FLC. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Jerry McBride
Fort Lewis College head coach Johnny Cox encourages his team on Saturday while playing Arizona Christian at FLC. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Jerry McBride
Zach Russell of Fort Lewis catches a touchdown and celebrates with the crowd while playing Arizona Christian at FLC. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Jerry McBride
Fort Lewis College head coach Johnny Cox talks with an official on Saturday while playing Arizona Christian at FLC. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
