Eason’s four TDs, game-sealing pick help Aggies edge Durango

Arbor View High’s Roderick Eason racked up four touchdowns on 229 yards of offense Thursday, but none of that would have mattered if not for his one big defensive play.

With his team backpedaling late in the fourth quarter, Eason intercepted a Chase Roberts pass to help the Aggies seal a 48-46 victory over Durango in the Sunset Region quarterfinals at Arbor View.

The win lifted the Aggies into the semifinals, where they will play at Bishop Gorman at 7 p.m. on Nov. 19.

“We knew they were going to try for the score,” said Eason, whose team fumbled at the Trailblazers 5-yard line with less than a minute to go. “I asked Coach if I could switch (coverage). He let me, they threw it deep and I got the interception.”

Eason had already earned bragging rights by rushing 18 times for 163 yards and catching a 66-yard touchdown pass from Henry Hoffend.

But the victory remained in doubt, as Durango had an answer for each of Arbor View’s seven touchdowns.

“It kind of turned out to be one of those games where whoever has the ball last wins,” Aggies coach Dan Barnson said. “The playoffs bring out the best in teams.”

Indeed, both offensive squads appeared unstoppable in the first quarter.

Donnie Gaskin scored on two long runs, Christian Rodriguez had a 62-yard scoring sprint and Eason found the end zone with a 65-yard run down the left sideline to give Arbor View 28 points in the opening period.

But the Trailblazers countered with scoring runs by Donovan Smith and Julio Mora and a TD pass from Mora to Michael Massaro to make it 28-19 heading into the second quarter.

Things settled down in the second, and Eason gave Arbor View a comfortable lead by capping a 16-play, 62-yard drive with a 1-yard TD plunge to make it 34-19 with 1:07 left in the first half.

But the Trailblazers needed less than a minute to answer, scoring on a 3-yard pass from Roberts to Smith to make it 34-25 at halftime.

Durango scored on a 69-yard pass from Roberts to Winston Williams in the third and again on Mora’s 1-yard run in the fourth.

Eason, meanwhile, had a 7-yard scoring run in the third and the TD reception midway through the fourth.

But Roberts’ 32-yard pass to Smith cut the Aggies’ lead to 48-46 with 6:03 to go.

Arbor View nearly sealed the game with a first down in the final minute, but a fumble gave Durango the ball at its 5.

“That was a roller coaster of emotions,” said Barnson, whose squad finished with 595 yards. “But I knew they had to go 95 yards, and we were going to make them earn it.”

Eason’s interception ended the Trailblazers’ drive and secure the win.

Gaskin carried 16 times for 237 yards to lead the Aggies, and Rodriguez gained 107 yards on 13 carries.

Roberts completed 18 of 31 passes for 347 yards to lead Durango.