After finishing 11-2 overall, winning a league title and reaching the Class 3A state semifinals, six senior Durango Demon football players were recently honored by the Colorado High School Activities Association with all-state accolades.
Josh Bates and Zach Haber both earned all-state first-team honors for Durango.
AJ Folk and Dre Garcia landed on the second team while Tagert Bardin and Jeric Baruch both scored all-state honorable mentions.
Bates and Haber were also named all-state last year, along with then-seniors Will Knight (first team), Kopper Mann (honorable mention) Cole Matava (HM) and Walter Stauffer (HM).
Bates was a first-team selection last year as a junior and a second-team selection as a sophomore while Haber was named to the second team last year as a junior.
This season, they played big roles on both sides of the ball for DHS.
Haber ran for 979 yards and scored 21 touchdowns on offense, but the strong safety’s defense also stood out to coaches around the 3A League 3. Haber was named the 3A League 3 defensive player of the year. He made 48 tackles, intercepted two passes, recovered a fumble and made lots of big hits.
Bates was also named the league’s lineman of the year and was one of the most dominate players in the league. He switched from center to guard this season so his backs could run behind him more, allowing him to pull more and lead the rush.
Folk, Garcia, Bardin and Baruch also earned first-team all-league honors before being recognized around the state.
Baruch was Durango’s leading rusher, running for 1,201 yards and 15 touchdowns on 165 carries, averaging 7.1 yards per run in 12 games this season. Baruch also made 56 tackles and intercepted a pass on defense.
Folk hauled in 12 catches for 441 yards and six touchdowns at tight end. Folk also made a team-high six sacks on defense.
Garcia joined Bates on the line, opening holes for the team’s running backs and giving Harms time to throw.
Bardin, who was named the league’s special teams player of the year, averaged 25 yards per kick return and 16.1 yards on punt returns. Bardin also caught 21 passes for 340 yards and seven touchdowns.
Player of the year honors went to Tucker Peterson of Roosevelt.
In Class 2A, four players from Montezuma-Cortez were recognized after the Panthers won a pair of playoff games and finished 8-4 overall.
Caden Cote and Miles Frost both earned all-state second team honors while Zander Cruzan and Tay Wheat both earned honorable mentions.
In eight-man, the state champs from Dove Creek had seven players and its coach honored. Kade Hankins was named the player of the year while Shane Baughman was named coach of the year.
Joining Hankins on the first team were Tyson Beanland, Gaige Cressler, Kendall Gardner, Quaden Huffaker and Cole Taber while Audric Chadd earned second-team honors.
Ayden Mathews and Kail Wayman of Mancos also earned second-team honors while Cole Dainty-Guilfoyle and Kaiden Wyatt earned honorable mentions.
No football players from Bayfield or Ignacio were honored.
