The first round of the Division IV state football playoffs didn’t offer any surprises. The top eight seeds all prevailed, although three of the eight games were decided by one touchdown. Top seeded Seton Catholic destroyed Page, 70-0. Eighth ranked Winslow got past No. 9 Parker and will now have to face the top seed on Saturday, Nov. 15.
Fourth seeded Snowflake had no problems getting past No. 13 Combs, defeating the Coyotes 54-12. The Lobos will host No. 5 Coolidge on Saturday night. The Bears needed all 41 of their points to outlast rival Florence, which scored 35. The Lobos will host this game, which should help them slow down what is typically a very quick Coolidge team. Both teams enter this game with identical 10-1 records, with both losing only to Seton Catholic during the regular season. Snowflake lost to the Sentinels 23-14 in week three, while the Bears were shut out 44-0 one month ago by Seton. With the game being played in Snowflake, look for the Lobos to get a rematch with the Sentinels, who should not have much trouble getting past Winslow on Saturday. Not only do they get to host the Bulldogs, who have to travel to Chandler, the Sentinels are just that good and they will bring Winslow’s season to a close.
Show Low and Blue Ridge have been staples in the Division IV post-season in recent years, but this week both will be home watching, as each was defeated in round one. The Cougars lost a close 19-13 game to No. 6 Estrella Foothills, and the Yellowjackets were pounded by Sahuarita, 42-0. Sahuarita hosts No. 7 Safford and Estrella will travel to No. 3 River Valley, which is now the favorite to come out of the bottom portion of the bracket.
When Saturday evening comes to a close, look for the top four seeds to have advanced to the semifinal round.
In Division VI, the Mogollon Mustangs have worked their way to the state title game, where they will face top ranked Bagdad at 6 p.m. on Saturday at North Canyon High School in Phoenix.
