Holbrook and Blue Ridge combined to score seven touchdowns in the first half, but just one each in a defensive minded second half, which resulted in a 34-28 Holbrook loss.
Blue Ridge started things quickly scoring on their opening possession with a 14-play drive capped by Julius Rangel’s short run to lead 6-0. Following a five-yard punt by Holbrook the Yellowjackets expanded their lead to 12-0 with a two yard run from Carlos Rosales with 33 seconds left in the first period.
Ryan Short, who otherwise played very well on the night for Holbrook, threw an interception, which was returned to Holbrook’s five-yard line. Rosales punched it in three plays later giving Blue Ridge a 19-0 early in the second period.
With 9:24 left in the half Holbrook got on the board on a 52-yard pass play from Ryan Short to Zakhari Waits making the margin 19-6. The ensuing kickoff was mishandled by Blue Ridge and Holbrook recovered at the Yellowjacket five-yard line. The next play Short scored from three yards away and the two point conversion run by Cade Maestas made the score 19-14 with 8:39 left in the half.
Blue Ridge then turned the momentum with a long kick off return by Rosales setting up the Jackets on Holbrook’s 15-yard line. Six plays later Spencer Wilkening scored on a two-yard run making the lead 26-14 with the PAT.
With under two minutes left in the half Holbrook capped an eight play drive with a 44-yard strike from Ryan Short to Cade Maestas streaking down the sideline making the score 26-22 with Short’s conversion pass to Waits.
The second half began with a combined six consecutive punts by both teams. Finally the Jackets scored with just 4:13 in the game on a 15-yard run pushing the margin to 34-22. The two teams traded turnovers inside the final four minutes but Holbrook used a long Ryan Short to Miah Perry connection to set up their final score of the night which came on a Ryan Short one yard run making the lead 34-28 with just 57 seconds left in the game.
Holbrook’s attempted on-side kick failed and Blue Ridge was able to hang on for the six-point win keeping their win streak over the Roadrunners in tact since 1988.
Blue Ridge did a good job keeping Cade Maestas bottled up on the ground. Maestas finished with only 10 rushing yards on five attempts. Ryan Short led the way on the ground gaining 64 yards on 12 runs. Zakhari Waits gained 50 on nine attempts.
Short completed 10 of 17 passes for 206 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. Cade Maestas was 0-2 with an interception.
Maestas did lead the team in receiving with 64 yards and a score on two receptions. Zakhari Waits had two catches for 60 yards with one score. Miah Perry had one 44 yard catch. Danny Gonzales picked up 33 yards on three catches.
Oscar Hernandez, Franki Ulibarri, and Cade Maestas each led the defense with 12 tackles. Danny Gonzales finished with 11 stops.
Holbrook has the daunting task of playing in Show Low this week. The Cougars are unbeaten in six outings and are heading towards a huge show down with top ranked Snowflake in three weeks. Holbrook now 2-3 has four games left in their schedule. Two of those four are against Show Low and Snowflake in the next two weeks.
