Durango football started the season against a Montrose team that ran the ball on almost every offensive play. The Demons were no match for Montrose and lost 42-16.
Almost a month later, Durango faced a Palisade team Friday that played the same run-dependent style of football. This time, the Demons dominated the line of scrimmage and cruised to a 32-14 victory at home.
The Demons improved to 2-2 overall with the win. Palisade fell to 2-2 overall with the loss.
“We've been hanging our hat on defense the last few weeks and tonight I was super proud of the offense,” Durango interim head coach Ryan Woolverton said. “They did control the line of scrimmage, made plays and we played four quarters. Take away some stupid penalties, clean those up and other than that, I couldn’t have been prouder.”
Demons senior quarterback Cully Feeney had a fantastic game. He unofficially finished with 270 passing yards, three passing touchdowns, 117 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown.
Feeney was in control the entire game, minus a fumble deep in his own half. The lefty had ample time to throw and was accurate with short passes and some deep shots. He ran well on designed plays and evaded the pass rush well to make some great throws across his body.
“We knew he could run,” Woolverton said about Feeney. “That's the reason he's been the starting quarterback. He makes plays with his feet, but he's starting to understand presnap reads. He's getting a little more in tune with what I want to do with the offense, and understanding where to go with the ball a little quicker. Tonight showed and I'm doing a better job of catering to his strengths as well. I couldn't be happier for any kid. He's really come a long way in four games.”
Junior wide receiver Will Zahradnik led the Demons with 102 receiving yards. Senior wide receiver Peyton Dike had 59 yards and a touchdown. Sophomore wide receiver Mason Miller had 49 yards and a touchdown. Sophomore Grady Feeney had 55 total yards and a receiving touchdown.
Dual-sport athlete junior kicker Dylan Burns made two field goals from 39 and 43 yards away.
Palisade junior quarterback Branson Springer had a rushing touchdown and threw an interception. Junior Cade Carter had the other rushing score for the Bulldogs.
After Cully Feeney threw deep and defensive pass interference was called, it set up the Demons in the red zone. Feeney received the snap, moved around in the pocket, waited, and threw across his body to his brother, Grady Feeney, who was wide-open in the right corner of the end zone. Durango led 6-0 after a failed PAT with nine minutes to go in the first.
Palisade quickly went three and out after three straight runs were stuffed plus an unsportsmanlike penalty.
Cully Feeney threw to Zahradnik who was wide-open against a zone about 10 yards away. He then broke a tackle and took it 62 yards down the left side to the 2-yard line. Cully Feeney rushed it home shortly after to give the Demons a 13-0 lead with 5:50 left in the first quarter.
Palisade had no answer on offense early on. The Demons defensive line dominated and pushed the Palisade runners back constantly.
“We're a physical team,” Woolverton said. “You look back at Montrose, that's just a different animal. You start playing teams with similar size, I'll put these guys against anyone.”
Burns hit a 39-yard kick to put the Demons up 16-0 with 10:47 left in the second quarter.
Palisade threw its first pass of the game in the second quarter. It was poorly thrown and the McInnes had the easy interception.
In the ensuing possession, Cully Feeney was hit hard and lost the ball. Palisade got the ball at Durango’s 7-yard line and Carter punched it in for the score to trail 16-7 with 7:01 left in the second quarter.
Carter Hayward broke the first big run for the Bulldogs down the left side for about 50 yards down to the 14-yard line. Springer rushed one from close to make it 16-14 Durango with 2:12 left in the half.
Durango quickly responded. Cully Feeney found Dike on a little slant route. Dike then broke a few tackles and scored from 51 yards out to make it 23-14 Durango with 1:48 left in the first half.
Holding penalties derailed the first drive of the second half and Burns crushed a 43-yard field goal between the uprights to put the Demons up 26-14 with 5:27 left in the third.
“He's a huge weapon,” Woolverton said about Burns. “He's a college kicker. He's going to be playing at the next level. It's huge to be able to go anywhere inside the 50 and know we have a shot at kicking a field goal. The kid hit a 60-yarder in practice last week … We feel really comfortable anywhere from 50 or 52 yards in with him.”
In the fourth quarter, at the 8-yard line, Cully Feeney danced in the pocket and found Miller across his body for what looked like a diving catch. Miller was called for offensive pass interference.
On the next play, Cully Feeney went back to Miller with a throw into the end zone. Miller wasn’t denied that time and made a tough, contested catch near the back of the end zone for a Demons touchdown. The PAT was blocked and Durango led 32-14 with 9:52 to go.
“With them, it's a lot of mental, they just got to believe in themselves,” Woolverton said about his receivers. “We have four guys that can absolutely fly. It's just mental, it's catching the ball and making plays. I've done a better job of catering to their strengths, trying to get them matchups and get them the ball … They're all capable of making a big play.”
Palisade couldn’t do anything after that and the Demons ran out the clock for their first home victory.
Durango plays Grand Junction next Friday at home at 7 p.m.
All player total yardage stats are unofficial.
bkelly@durangoherald.com
