Football season has arrived with two of the four local area teams kicking off their 2018 campaign. The AIA officially calls this Friday zero week, with only some of the teams opening their seasons. The first full week of the season doesn’t begin until next Friday. Nevertheless, both Snowflake and Winslow will be involved in two big match ups, which despite being played in August, may still have implications on the playoff future for both squads.
Winslow hosts Blue Ridge, which is not only traditionally a big 3A game, it is also the opening of the 3A East Region for both clubs. Normally the East Region teams play a month of non-region contests before closing out the final five weeks of the regular season with all East Region opponents. The Yellowjackets and the Bulldogs jump right into region play.
Last season Blue Ridge went 6-4, with one of those wins coming in a 42-0 home field shut out over Winslow. The Bulldogs opened last season in fine form winning their first five starts, but once they hit region play they finished 1-4 to close the season out with a 6-4 mark, and missed the state playoffs. Hosting Blue Ridge two years ago the Bulldogs prevailed 8-7 in a great game.
Following this game the Bulldogs will be on the road for the next month with four consecutive road games. They won’t play at home again until week five of the season.
Like many small schools, graduation of last year’s seniors leaves holes to fill. Both Blue Ridge and Winslow lost key players but both have solid programs to rebuild from. This is a huge game to open the season for both teams, with the winner having an early confidence boost for the rest of the year. Maybe playing on their home turf will give the Bulldogs enough of an advantage to open the season with a win.
In a strange quirk of scheduling, Safford will be visiting Snowflake for the second consecutive year. Generally non-region teams trade home and home dates over the two-year block. Safford traveled to Snowflake last year and left for home with a hard fought 13-10 loss. Two years ago Snowflake won handily in Safford.
Safford is coming off a 4-7 season a year ago, which left them short of the playoffs. Snowflake went 7-4 last season before bowing out of the playoffs with a first round loss to Yuma Catholic. Snowflake currently has 16 seniors on their roster led by returning quarterback Traegon Standerfer. Classmates Cody Fox and David Brimhall return as the Lobos top two rushers from a season ago as well. Snowflake lost some key players, but it would appear they still have plenty of returning talent to cause visiting Safford some headaches. Despite last year’s game being a three-point contest, don’t be surprised if Snowflake rolls to a big win to open the season.
Holbrook and Joseph City won’t open their seasons until next weekend.
