The first week of the push to the Super Bowl is in the books for Durango’s Young America Football League squads.
Three teams are still alive going to the second week of postseason play, with the third-, fifth- and sixth-grade Demons all winning the first week of the playoffs.
The sixth-grade team entered the playoffs as a No. 5 seed and faced No. 4 Bayfield, who beat the Demons 26-6 only three weeks earlier. That loss didn’t intimidate the group from Durango, as it rebounded with a resounding 49-0 win.
Emmet Thompson was a force on the ground once more. He had two touchdowns and 185 yards on 17 carries, and he added another score on a 25-yard reception from quarterback Jordan Stanley in the second quarter. Stanley dodged a few defenders before letting the pass fly, and the effort was aided by a monster block by William Knight.
Kooper Mann then came up with an interception, and the Demons turned that into a 30-yard touchdown run. The two touchdowns came in a span of 26 seconds to give Durango a 28-0 halftime lead.
Durango gained 231 yards on the ground on only 25 carries, good for a 9.2-yard-per-carry average. Also scoring touchdowns were Wil Hadrick, Knight and Stanley.
Defensively, the Demons were led by Nate Messier and Mann, who had two interceptions in the game. Cass Maloney also forced a fumble and recovered it to set an early tempo on Bayfield’s first drive of the game.
Next up for the sixth-grade group is a contest against two-time defending champion Farmington Panthers. The game will be at 3 p.m. Saturday in Farmington.
Durango’s fifth-grade team earned the No. 1 seed in the playoffs and opened with a 27-7 thumping of the Farmington Badcats. Beau Brunson returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown for a remarkable fourth time this season, and the defense also got on the board with a Nate Pinto blocked punt. Zachary Haber scooped up the ball after the block and took it in for the game’s final score.
Chris Martinez had seven tackles and clogged up the middle running lanes all game.
Durango will have a semifinal matchup at 11 a.m. Saturday at Farmington’s Doc Jones Field.
Durango’s third-grade team entered the postseason as a No. 2 seed and proved its worth with a 31-12 win against No. 7 Bayfield.
Cole Pontine led the way on both sides of the ball with 90 yards and three touchdowns offensively and two interceptions on defense.
Malakai Baier had 80 yards of offense and a touchdown, and quarterback Linkin Griego also scored a touchdown. Elijah McGrad was a standout on the team’s defense.
The third-grade team will play in the semifinals at 9 a.m. Saturday in Durango, and the team and coaches are hoping to see great local fan support.
The season came to an end for the fourth-grade Demons, who fell 14-12 to the Farmington Force in an epic contest.
Zac Unruh had a 30-yard touchdown reception, and Brett Hamer rumbled for 87 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries. Conner McCroskey led the defense with seven tackles, two sacks a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. Clay Braida added 11 tackles.
It was the best season thus far for the group.
Super Bowls will be played Oct. 24 in Farmington.
heraldsports@durangoherald.com
