The Bulldogs defeated the Page Sand Devils 49-0 last Friday night in Winslow, improving to 5-3 while Page fell to 1-7. The victory was a necessary one for the Bulldogs, and gave them legitimate hopes to qualify for the playoffs.
Winslow was without star running back Darrien “Peanut” Brown, who was injured the previous week in a game at Payson.
Page held the Bulldogs on their first possession and took the ball on downs at their 33 yard line, but Winslow took only two plays to score on its next possession. Mikel Bonner ran 64 yards and C.J. Chacon followed with an 11-yard run to score. Damon Avalar booted the conversion for a 7-0 lead.
Kellen Campbell intercepted a Page pass at the Sand Devil 28 yard line. The Bulldogs drove that distance to the end zone and scored on a five-yard run by Bonner. Avalar booted the conversion for a 14-0 lead. Winslow was driving and inside the Page 10 yard line when the first quarter ended with the Bulldogs leading by two scores.
Chacon scored on a two-yard run on the first play of the second quarter. The Bulldog drive was 65 yards. Chacon also picked up a low snap and ran for the two-point conversion that gave Winslow a 22-0 lead.
The Bulldogs scored on their next possession on a 33-yard pass from Rey Chavez-Velez to Chacon. The conversion kick by Avalar increased the Winslow lead to 29-0.
Winslow next scored on a 57-yard pass from Chavez-Velez to Nate Hollings to complete a 96-yard drive. The conversion failed and Winslow led 35-0 with about three minutes left in the half.
Campbell again intercepted a Page pass and this time returned it 36 yards to score. Avalar’s conversion gave the Bulldogs a 42-0 lead. That was the score at the end of the first half.
Winslow had an apparent touchdown on a two-yard run by Avalar negated by a penalty, but Junior Villanueva scored on the next play on a 14-yard run. Avalar converted to increase the lead to 49-0 with the second half being played with a running clock due to the commanding Winslow lead.
The Bulldogs played mostly reserves in the second half still held a 49-0 lead entering the final period. With the running clock and most junior varsity players in the game for Winslow there was no scoring in that quarter. The Bulldog jayvees had edged the Page junior varsity 33-26 at Page on Thursday.
The Bulldogs will journey to Lakeside on Friday, Oct. 23, to meet Blue Ridge. The Yellowjackets have run into difficulties in the last three weeks, sustaining their first three losses of the season to Payson, 20-19, Snowflake, 36-7, and to Show Low, 39-3. This could be a vital game for both teams regarding playoff berths. Both have 5-3 records. Winslow will host the tough Snowflake Lobos on their last regular season game, while Blue Ridge has a much easier task against the weak Page Sand Devils.
The top seed in the state tournament may be decided next week when the undefeated Snowflake Lobos meet the undefeated Show Low Cougars at Show Low. Snowflake will end its regular season at Winslow and Show Low will host Payson.
