Spartans rush past Durango with three-headed attack
Durango entered its Friday night game trying to stop Cimarron-Memorial’s 1-2 rushing punch of James Poole and Stephen Nixon, but it was the Spartans' three-headed rushing attack that got the best of the Trailblazers.
Fullback Zach Barbara added to the Poole-Nixon combo as each player rushed for more than 100 yards to lead the Spartans (8-2) past the Trailblazers (8-3), 59-20.
Barbara, who had been overshadowed for most of the year, finished with two touchdowns and 138 yards on just five carries.
“I just wait for my opportunities,” Barbara said. “The defense focuses on (Poole and Nixon) and I just take advantage of the holes our linemen create.”
Cimarron coach Rod Vollan agreed that Barbara has been a key to his team’s success this year.
“Sometimes I feel like we haven’t given him the ball enough,” Vollan said. “But his blocking ability is great and he plays defense, so he’s had his chances to contribute.”
Poole led all rushers with 224 yards on 16 carries, including four TDs.
Poole opened with 50- and 75-yard scoring runs on Cimarron’s first two drives for a 14-0 lead early in the first quarter.
After Durango muffed the kickoff, Kenny Banks hit Tim Hasson on a 27-yard TD for his only completion of the night to make it 21-0.
Durango responded with a 1-yard rushing touchdown from Julio Mora, and a 2-yard TD pass from Chase Roberts to Riley Smith to make it 21-14.
Mora finished with 134 yards on 30 carries to lead the Trailblazers.
A last-second field goal by Alex Ramos made it 24-14 at the half.
Cimarron ran away with the game in the second half, scoring 28 unanswered points to make it 52-14 with 4:50 remaining.
Roberts connected with Anthony Ramirez on a 16-yard TD pass to make it 52-20.
Poole scored the final TD on a 47-yard run with a minute remaining. Nixon added a 52-yard TD burst in the fourth quarter before finishing with 105 yards .
The Spartans finished with 487 rushing yards.
Cimarron will travel to Legacy next week to face the second-ranked Longhorns.
