For six weeks, the Durango High School football team trailed Mead in the math that would determine the Class 3A playoff seeds.
A loss by Mead in week 10 to Frederick, however, helped the Demons overtake the Mavericks in the state tournament seeding gave DHS the right to host Saturday’s quarterfinal game.
The state uses four polls – CHSAA coaches, MaxPreps, Packard and Ratings Percentage Index – to determine playoff seeds. Each is worth 25% of the total ranking score.
Durango finished ahead of Mead in two polls, and Mead finished ahead of Durango in the other two. The Demons, however, had slightly better math, giving them the No. 4 seed and the Mavericks the No. 5 seed.
“It’s huge,” DHS head coach Todd Casebier said about scoring the No. 4 seed and getting to host Saturday’s playoff game. “A lot of people think Mead is the better team and vice versa, a lot of people think Durango is better. We’ll find out who’s right tomorrow.”
Mead is 8-2, which includes a 3-1 mark in the 3A North Central League. Frederick and Holy Family also went 3-1 in the league and remain in contention for a state title. Frederick is the No. 6 seed and will face No. 3 Fort Morgan in the quarterfinals while Holy Family earned the No. 8 seed and will play at No. 1 Roosevelt. Roosevelt is the only other team that beat Mead this season.
“Mead played a tougher schedule, so they have an advantage over us there, but at the same time, we’re playing as good as anybody in 3A,” Casebier said.
Durango, meanwhile, is 9-2 and went 5-0 in the 3A Southern League.
Durango’s two losses came to a pair of teams that not lost a game this year: Montrose, the No. 1 seed in Class 4A, and Farmington, New Mexico.
In the seven weeks since losing to Farmington, however, Durango has given up only one touchdown and one field goal, and the touchdown came with Durango’s starters on the bench against Piedra Vista. DHS also has scored at least 42 points in every game it has played since falling to Farmington in week four.
The Demons have more than 4,000 yards of total offense this season, and the team’s offensive line has opened up a lot of holes for its running backs and given quarterback Tyler Harms lots of time to throw.
On the offensive line, Dre Garcia, Miguel Stubbs and Mike Chowen have all played right tackle for the Demons this season. Walter Stauffer is the team’s other tackle. Joining them on the line have been guards Will Knight and Kooper Mann, center Joshua Bates and tight ends Jacob Neubert and AJ Folk.
“They’ve gotten better as the season has gone on,” Casebier said, crediting coaches Mike Sutter and Ron Morris. “They’ve done a great job with those kids. (The players are) coachable, and they want to get better.”
Harms has thrown for 1,033 yards, 13 touchdowns, and six interceptions, completing 48 of 89 attempts this season. Five interceptions came in Durango’s two losses.
“He’s done a very good job, not just throwing the ball, but running the offense,” Casebier said. “He’s smart and tough and a good runner.”
Jordan Stanley and Zach Haber have been Harms’ top targets. Stanley has made 13 catches for 311 yards and five touchdowns while Haber has hauled in 17 catches for 290 yards and one touchdown. Haber has rushed for another 1,277 yards and 19 touchdowns in the 10 games DHS has played. One of the team’s wins was a forfeit.
Nate Messier also started the year strong before getting injured, running for 531 yards and seven touchdowns in six games. When Messier went down, Jeric Baruch filled in and has run for 307 yards and five touchdowns on 37 carries.
“Jeric has done a great job,” Casebier said. “He’s had some big runs, is an outstanding blocker and can get 3 or 4 tough yards when needed.”
The Demons have scored 40 rushing touchdowns 14 passing touchdowns on offense.
Mead, on the other hand, has rushed for 27 touchdowns and thrown for 22.
Quarterback Gavin Garrettson enters Saturday’s game with 1,407 passing yards, 20 touchdown passes and six interceptions, completing 86 of his 142 attempts.
Corby Tecu has been his top target, catching 28 balls for 553 yards and seven touchdowns. Sean Medlock has caught 23 passes for 305 yards and five touchdowns.
Even Morris, meanwhile, leads Mead’s rushing attack with 977 yards and 14 touchdowns on 144 carries.
“They do all of the things good teams do,” Casebier said. “They control the line of scrimmage, limit turnovers and run to the ball on defense. They’re the best team we’ve played in 3A at this point, and we’ll have to play our best to win.”
Durango’s defense has allowed one field goal in its past five games and has plenty of athletes who can make big plays. Eight Demons have intercepted a total of 12 passes this season, led by Junior Garcia-Rodriguez, Ean Goodwin and Chase Roberston with two a piece. Roberston also returned both of his interceptions for touchdowns, and the three catches he made on offense were all touchdowns as well.
Linebacker Cole Matava leads the team with 97 tackles, including 14 tackles for a loss.
“Cole has been huge and makes a lot of plays for us,” Casebier said.
The team’s next three leading tacklers are also linebackers: Baruch with 55, Stanley with 45 and Garcia-Rodriguez with 44. Knight is right behind them with 43.
Casebier said the D-line has given them a lot of help and helped keep blockers off the team’s linebackers. The coach also credited assistants Justin Bates and Eric Roark for their work with the defense.
Stauffer is one of the leaders on the defensive line, sacking quarterbacks a team-high seven times this season.
With strong players on both teams, the keys for Saturday’s game, Casebier said, will be controlling the ball, finishing drives and getting points, taking care of the ball and limiting turnovers, and field position, which will special teams will play a vital role in.
“The team who does those the best will win,” Casebier said.
The quarterfinal will kick off at 1 p.m. at DHS.