Shadow Ridge celebrates 1st playoff win in 15 years

Shadow Ridge's Kela Cox (2) takes down Durango's Tanner Nitsche (8) in front of Shadow Ridge's Diego Faulkner (7) during the first half of a football game at Shadow Ridge High School in Las Vegas on Friday, Nov. 5, 2021. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto

Shadow Ridge's Jaquieze Holland (25) runs the ball under pressure from Durango's Cole Marquez (9) during the first half of a football game at Shadow Ridge High School in Las Vegas on Friday, Nov. 5, 2021. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto

Shadow Ridge scores a touchdown against Durango during the first half of a football game at Shadow Ridge High School in Las Vegas on Friday, Nov. 5, 2021. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto

Shadow Ridge's Jeremiah Campbell (21) breaks up a pass intended for Durango's Jaxon Young during the first half of a football game at Shadow Ridge High School in Las Vegas on Friday, Nov. 5, 2021. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto

Durango's quarterback Maverik Cormier (2) throws a pass during the first half of a football game at Shadow Ridge High School in Las Vegas on Friday, Nov. 5, 2021. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto

Durango's Tyler Robbins (19) runs the ball under pressure from Shadow Ridge's Devon Woods (20) during the first half of a football game at Shadow Ridge High School in Las Vegas on Friday, Nov. 5, 2021. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto

Durango's Sterling Lewis (45) scores a touchdown during the first half of a football game at Shadow Ridge High School in Las Vegas on Friday, Nov. 5, 2021. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto

Shadow Ridge's Coen Coloma (8) scores a touchdown against Durango's Tyler Robbins (19) during the first half of a football game at Shadow Ridge High School in Las Vegas on Friday, Nov. 5, 2021. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto

Shadow Ridge's Jeremiah Campbell (21) nearly intercepts the ball after breaking up a pass intended for Durango's Jaxon Young (3) during the first half of a football game at Shadow Ridge High School in Las Vegas on Friday, Nov. 5, 2021. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto

Durango's Jaxon Young (3) pulls in a pass during the first half of a football game at Shadow Ridge High School in Las Vegas on Friday, Nov. 5, 2021. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto

Shadow Ridge's Royasen Mokiao-fa'agai (4) sacks Durango quarterback Maverik Cormier (2) during the first half of a football game at Shadow Ridge High School in Las Vegas on Friday, Nov. 5, 2021. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto

Shadow Ridge's Royasen Mokiao-fa'agai (4) celebrates after sacking Durango quarterback Maverik Cormier (2) during the first half of a football game at Shadow Ridge High School in Las Vegas on Friday, Nov. 5, 2021. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto

Durango's Maverik Cormier (2) runs the ball during the first half of a football game at Shadow Ridge High School in Las Vegas on Friday, Nov. 5, 2021. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto

Shadow Ridge's Devon Poloa (19) returns the ball against Durango during the first half of a football game at Shadow Ridge High School in Las Vegas on Friday, Nov. 5, 2021. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto

Shadow Ridge's Jaquieze Holland (25) runs the ball against Durango during the first half of a football game at Shadow Ridge High School in Las Vegas on Friday, Nov. 5, 2021. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto

Durango's Sterling Lewis (45) scores a touchdown as Shadow Ridge's Jonah Ruiz (9) makes the tackle during the first half of a football game at Shadow Ridge High School in Las Vegas on Friday, Nov. 5, 2021. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto

Durango's Sterling Lewis (45) celebrates his touchdown with Durango's Jaxon Young (3) during the first half of a football game at Shadow Ridge High School in Las Vegas on Friday, Nov. 5, 2021. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto

Durango's Sterling Lewis (45) runs the ball on his way to score a touchdown under pressure from Shadow Ridge's Jonah Ruiz (9) during the first half of a football game at Shadow Ridge High School in Las Vegas on Friday, Nov. 5, 2021. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto

Durango's Dodge Dalke (54) kicks the ball to score a point during the first half of a football game at Shadow Ridge High School in Las Vegas on Friday, Nov. 5, 2021. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto

Durango's Jaxon Young (3) runs the ball during the first half of a football game at Shadow Ridge High School in Las Vegas on Friday, Nov. 5, 2021. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto

Durango's Shayson See (44) takes down Shadow Ridge's Coen Coloma (8) during the first half of a football game at Shadow Ridge High School in Las Vegas on Friday, Nov. 5, 2021. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto

Shadow Ridge's Jeremiah Campbell (21) breaks up a pass intended for Durango's Jaxon Young (3) during the first half of a football game at Shadow Ridge High School in Las Vegas on Friday, Nov. 5, 2021. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto

Durango's quarterback Maverik Cormier (2) runs the ball during the first half of a football game at Shadow Ridge High School in Las Vegas on Friday, Nov. 5, 2021. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto

Shadow Ridge's Jeremiah Campbell (21) celebrates after breaking up a pass against Durango during the first half of a football game at Shadow Ridge High School in Las Vegas on Friday, Nov. 5, 2021. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto

Shadow Ridge's Jaquieze Holland (25) scores a touchdown against Durango during the second half of a football game at Shadow Ridge High School in Las Vegas on Friday, Nov. 5, 2021. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto

Shadow Ridge's Maddyx Valenzuela (10) runs the ball against Durango's Tyler Robbins (19) during the second half of a football game at Shadow Ridge High School in Las Vegas on Friday, Nov. 5, 2021. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto

More Stories

Faith Lutheran running back Cale Breslin (14) runs the ball during the first half of a high sch ...

Faith Lutheran running back commits to Big 12 school

Bishop Gorman Rome Odunze (4) celebrates a touchdown catch, with Izaiah Halmos (28), in the fir ...

‘You know where to find us’: Vegas high school leads the way in NFL Draft

Bears, Steelers select locals in 1st round of 2024 NFL draft

Dallas Cowboys run onto the field before the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 1 ...

Former Basic High, Dallas Cowboys lineman dies at 66

By Justin Lafferty Special to the Review-Journal

November 5, 2021 - 10:09 pm

How do you celebrate a playoff win 15 years in the making?

After Shadow Ridge finished off Durango, 38-7, in Friday night’s Class 4A state quarterfinals, blue smoke poured from the Mustangs’ home bleachers. Players got in formation for a celebratory chant. Coach Travis Foster knew what was coming next — dashing to the locker room to avoid a Gatorade bath.

“It was a great experience for the kids, and this is a big step for the program,” Foster said. “It’s something that we’ve been chasing for a long time. … But we’re not done. We need to keep grinding.”

The playoff win was Shadow Ridge’s first since Nov. 3, 2006 — a 31-19 victory over Sierra Vista. The Mustangs (8-2) won’t have to wait long for the chance to make it two in a row, as the Mustangs will visit Las Vegas High next Friday night.

The Mustangs’ offensive line paved the way on Friday, as Shadow Ridge racked up 290 rushing yards. The lion’s share of that work went to Jaquieze Holland, who rumbled for 138 yards and three touchdowns on 20 carries.

“I love running behind those guys,” Holland said. “They’re always opening up holes. It’s great because there’s always a pancake block, and I can just get open.”

Holland got his team on the board first with a 1-yard touchdown run early in the second quarter, putting the Mustangs up 6-0.

Durango (5-5) responded roughly five minutes before halftime with a 14-yard touchdown pass from Maverik Cormier to Sterling Lewis, giving the Trailblazers a 7-6 lead. That didn’t last long, though. On the next drive, Shadow Ridge quarterback Coen Nicholas Coloma ran it in from 7 yards, giving the Mustangs a 13-7 halftime lead.

It was all Shadow Ridge after that.

Early in the third quarter, Holland took a pitch from Coloma, broke a couple tackles and bulldozed his way into the end zone to make it a 20-7 game. Holland scored his third touchdown three minutes later, this time from 11 yards out. Another rushing TD shortly before the end of the quarter by Caleb Fisher put the game out of reach.

Ryan Murphy added a 33-yard field goal late in the fourth quarter, finishing off Shadow Ridge’s second win over Durango this season. The Mustangs beat the Trailblazers 17-15 on Sept. 3.

Cormier finished 9-for-29 for 109 yards for Durango.