The Winslow Bulldogs defeated the Monument Valley Mustangs 40-6 last Friday night in Kayenta in a first-round Class 3 state playoff games. The win improved Winslow’s record to 7-4 for the season and dropped Monument Valley’s to 10-1 with their first loss of the season. It also avenged an opening day 24-23 loss by the Bulldogs to the Mustangs.
The game started with both teams playing well and stopping several drives by their opponents.
Winslow got the only score of the first quarter with just 2:48 left in the period. Damon Avelar ran three yards to complete an 11-play, 86-yard drive. The conversion failed and the Bulldogs led 6-0 going into the second period.
Mikel Bonner ran four yards for the only touchdown of the second quarter to cap a 58-yard drive and caught a two-point conversion pass from Junior Villanueva for a 14-0 lead at the half.
The Bulldogs scored on a 10-yard pass from Villanueva to Yoann Diassa with more than half of the third quarter left to play. The conversion failed and Winslow led 20-0.
Noah Upchurch scored next for the Bulldogs on a six-yard run. The conversion failed and Winslow led 26-0. Upchurch came on very strong in the third quarter with a pass interception he returned 45 yards for his second straight touchdown. Villanueva ran for the two-point conversion and a 34-0 Winslow lead.
Monument Valley got on the scoreboard late in the third quarter on a 64-yard pass from Caury Nelson to Royce Charley. The conversion failed and Winslow took a 34-6 lead into the final period.
Titus Russell intercepted a Monument Valley pass in the end zone to stop a late Mustang threat.
Bonner broke for a 93-yard scamper for the final touchdown of the game. The conversion failed, but the Bulldogs’ 40-6 victory was sealed.
Winslow will meet Sabercats in a quarterfinal game at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 12, at Sabino High School in Tucson. Sabino pulled away from a close early game for a 45-7 win over the Safford Bulldogs.
