The Durango Demons third grade football team ended their regular season with an unblemished 8-0 mark after beating Kirtland 41-0 last weekend.
The offense got on the board early and often with rushing scores from Carter Lopez, Malcom Rodriguez, Colt Bartel, Tobias Romero and Braxton Ernst.
Lopez and Jack Wiman also connected for a passing touchdown.
The Demons defense finished the season strong. With outstanding play from defensive linemen Jay Paulek, Terran Sutherlin, Colton Ludeman and Colton Espinoza, the defense did not allow a single first down.
The Demons will now enter the playoffs as the No. 1 seed in their division.
The week before, the third grade team won a nail-biter against Aztec, 12-7.
The Demons scored their two touchdowns on a kickoff return from Ernst and an interception runback for a touchdown from Jameson Green.
The defense was solid on the day and made several key stops, including a strip and recovery by Ernst. The day’s top tacklers included Brantley Bourne, Austin Peterson and Colt Bartel.
The fourth grade team was outnumbered by Aztec and lost 44-0 over the weekend. Highlights included a fumble recovery by Tommy Munn and tackles by Blake Bates, Johnny Schmitt, Jaime Escalante, Stevie Blevins, Liam Landers and Levi Schwettman.
Bates, Schwettman and Nehemiah Pachecoa made some good runs. Colton Winn batted down two passes.
Escalante and Carson Price listened and adjusted, while Ely Pinto let it all on the field. Marcello Escobar gave it his all and played his best game of the season.
The prior week, the fourth graders beat Bayfield 18-7. Blake Bates returned after an early season injury and helped his team with a touchdown and some good running plays. Colton Winn also scored in the win.
Johnny Schmitt did great running in plays for the offense. As a whole, the team did great with only 12 players.
The fourth grade team now awaits playoff placement.
Durango’s fifth grade team lost to Aztec 27-0 this weekend. The team’s defense held strong the first half, but Aztec was too strong in the second half.
During week seven, the fifth graders beat Bloomfield in overtime, 13-6. The offensive line, held by Isaiah Contreras and Sebastian Matava, worked hard blocking Bloomfield's defense. Brekan Romero and Cole Perkins scored the team’s touchdowns. Perkins scored the final touchdown in overtime, and Romero converted the extra point. Jet Gurule and Matt Sullivan recovered fumbles. The defense held tight and was led by Keyon Alston, Contreras, Perkins, Gurule and Conrad Klots.
The fifth grade team ends the regular season with a 5-3 record and awaits its placing in the playoffs.
The Durango sixth grade team scored a win over Kirtland, 28-7, last weekend to end the regular season a perfect 8-0 and earn the No. 1 seed for the playoffs.
Hayes Fancher, Rylan Ernst and Darion Allen each scored rushing touchdowns. Ernst also completed a 30-yard pass to Jerad Lopez for a touchdown and kicked two field goals worth two points each. The defense kept Kirtland in their zone most of the game, with big stops by Fancher, Griffin McCroskey, Quanah Nez and Michael Justice.
Isaiah McCrady continued his ways with fumble recoveries while Kegan Cowan also recovered a fumble and Malique Rodriguez intercepted a pass.
The previous week, the sixth grade squad beat Bayfield, 33-0. Rylan Ernst blocked a punt, Isaiah McCrady got a scoop and score, Malique Rodriquez intercepted a pass, and Tyler Hoerl and McCrady recovered fumbles. The team also got numerous tackles from Fancher Hayes, Griffin McCroskey, Jerren Miller-King, Jacob Engel and Darion Allen
Fancher, Hoerl, McCrady, Rodriguez, Jerad Lopez, and Tyler Cox all contributed to the point count.
