The Yuma Catholic Shamrocks defeated the Winslow Bulldogs 45-13 in the Arizona State Division IV playoffs last Saturday in Yuma. The win improved Yuma Catholic’s record to 11-0 for the season and ended Winslow’s at 5-6. Yuma Catholic will host a game with Northwest Christian, a 52-28 winner over Flowing Wells, on Saturday, Nov. 14.
The Bulldogs were without Darrien “Peanut” Brown, one of their best players and one of several who were injured. Yuma Catholic is the top seed in the Division IV playoffs, and has an excellent quarterback, who had transferred from a very good out of state team.
Winslow played well in the game, especially in the second half.
Yuma Catholic drove 61 yards to score on its first possession. Jaylen Barnes ran six yards for the touchdown. The Shamrocks failed on a two-point conversion run, but led 6-0 with about nine minutes left in the first quarter.
Barnes scored for the second time on another six-yard run to complete a 73-yard drive on the Shamrocks’ next possession. The two-point conversion run failed again and Yuma Catholic led 12-0 with around five minutes left in the quarter.
The Shamrocks scored on their third possession on a 36-yard pass from Stetson Stallworth to Blake Sandoval. The two-point conversion pass from Stallworth to Jason Pisano increased the Yuma Catholic advantage to 20-0 with two minutes left in the first quarter, and that was the score going into the second quarter.
Yuma Catholic scored on its next possession on a 36-yard pass from Stallworth to Brandon Hunter. The Shamrocks drove 95 yards and had kept the drive alive with a fourth down run inside their own 20 yard line. The conversion failed and Yuma Catholic led 26-0 with about nine minutes left in the half.
Winslow got a pass interception by Damon Avalar near midfield to stop the Shamrocks for the first time in the game. The Bulldogs could not threaten, but got a good punt to put the Shamrocks inside their 10 yard line. Winslow held Yuma Catholic on its next possession and took the ball on downs with seconds left in the half. The score at the end of the first half was 26-0.
The Bulldogs drove 54 yards and scored on a seven-yard pass from Rey Chavez-Velez to C.J. Chacon on their first possession of the second half. Avalar converted to cut the Shamrocks’ lead to 26-7.
The Winslow defense held Yuma Catholic again and got a big first down after a punt had put the Bulldogs near their own goal line. They were forced to punt, but got the Shamrocks deep in their own territory.
Yuma Catholic scored for the first time in the second half when Barnes ran 61 yards to set up a two-yard run by Wyatt Skurski for the touchdown. The conversion run failed and Yuma Catholic led 32-7. That score held as the third quarter ended.
The Bulldogs got a first down on a fourth down play, but failed on a second fourth down try turning the ball over to the Shamrocks on downs near midfield.
Yuma Catholic scored on a 32-yard pass from Stallworth to Pisano on a fourth down play. The conversion kick failed and the Shamrocks led 38-7 with more than eight minutes left to play.
Winslow drove into Yuma Catholic territory, but Pisano intercepted a pass to end that drive without about three minutes left to play. The Shamrocks scored on an 11-yard pass from Stallworth to Skurski. The conversion kick by Fabian Ramirez increased the Yuma Catholic lead to 45-7.
The Bulldogs scored on a 35-yard pass from Chavez-Velez to Nate Hollins. The conversion failed, but Winslow had cut the Shamrocks’ lead to 45-13 with just under two minutes left to play. The Shamrocks were able to run out the clock and walk off with the win.
In other games all of the higher seeded teams won. Second seeded Show Low defeated Combs 28-21 in a closer than expected contest. Pusch Ridge Christian Academy defeated the Payson Longhorns 38-13. Lake Havasu defeated Casa Grande 30-14. River Valley defeated Blue Ridge 24-6. Snowflake defeated Dysart 40-13. Estrella Foothills defeated Pueblo Magnet 42-13.
