Holbrook’s football season came to an end last Friday night with a 52-30 loss to visiting Payson on Senior Night. The loss was the Roadrunners’ fifth consecutive to end the season with a 2-7 overall record.
Payson got on the board first after getting excellent field position following a one-yard punt by Holbrook, which gave them a short field to work with at the Roadrunner 44 yard line. Three plays later Cameron Ross scored on a three-yard run and with 7:04 left in the first, the Longhorns led 7-0.
Just two minutes later Holbrook answered with a three-play, 68-yard drive of its own. Zakhari Waits did the bulk of the work with a 56-yard run to the two yard line. Danny Gonzales scored on the next play and Cade Maestas found Cole McDaniel for the two-point conversion, giving the Roadrunners their only lead of the night at 8-7.
Payson took control of the game from that point on. Scoring runs of 22 yards and 21 yards by JT Dolinich gave the visitors a 21-8 lead at the close of the first period.
The Longhorns picked up the scoring with 9:15 left in the second on a 67-yard screen pass from Ryan Rickie to Dolinich, expanding the margin to 28-8. With 27 seconds left in the half, the Longhorns capitalized on an interception and closed the half scoring with a 31-yard field goal by Kenny Ayers to lead 31-8.
The second half kickoff by Holbrook was misplayed by the Longhorns and recovered by Miah Perry, giving Holbrook a short field. With 8:48 left in the third, Holbrook scored on a six-yard pass from Maestas to Justin Perkins. The two-point conversion was good, making the score 31-16.
Dolinich found the end zone again on Payson’s first possession of the second half, this time on a 10-yard run, making the score 38-16 with 6:10 left in the quarter. Ross expanded that margin on the final play of the period, a 30-yard run, making the score 45-16.
Early in the fourth, Maestas found McDaniel on a 22-yard scoring toss to make it 45-22.
Payson answered that score with 5:18 left in the game on a one-yard run for its final points of the night, bringing the score to 52-22.
Holbrook’s final score of the season came on a Maestas to Ryan Short 27-yard touchdown pass with 2:36 left in the game. Maestas found Frankie Ulibarri for the final two points of the game, making it 52-30.
Playing quarterback for his final high school game, Maestas finished the night at 21 for 33 for 266 yards with three touchdowns and an interception. McDaniel, a junior, had easily his best game of the season with eight catches for 104 yards and a touchdown. Ulibarri picked up 68 yards on six receptions. Gonzales caught three for 48 yards. Short had three for 35 yards with a score. Perkins caught two for 11 yards with a score.
McDaniel also had seven kickoff returns for an additional 104 yards.
On the ground, Maestas led the way with 70 yards on 10 runs. Waits carried twice, gaining 58 yards. Gonzales had four rushes for 20 yards and a score.
While Holbrook’s season came to a close, the Longhorns made the state playoffs and as a reward they will face the second seeded Lobos on Saturday evening, Nov. 5, in Snowflake.
