Snowflake entered the 3A state football playoffs last Saturday night as the No. 2 overall seed with a 9-1 record and as the higher seed, the Lobos played host to 15th seeded Payson, which came in with a 5-5 regular season mark. The Lobos had defeated the Longhorns 26-21 on Oct. 7.
None of that mattered to the Longhorns, who upset the Lobos 7-6 on Saturday night in a tough defensive battle. Through the first two and a half quarters, both teams’ defensive units were in control.
A scoreless tie was finally broken with 3:29 left in the third quarter on a 14-yard pass from Trey Schneider to JT Tate making the score 6-0. Snowflake’s point after attempt was blocked, which would be a huge factor by the end of the game. The scoring pass was set up by a Zach Solomon 15-yard run, followed by a 21-yard completion to Trenton Hatch. Facing third and nine at Payson’s 14 yard line, the Lobos scored the final points of their season.
With 11:17 left in the fourth Payson tied the game up on a two-yard quarterback sneak by Ryan Rickie. Kenny Ayers’ successful point after kick gave the lower seed the all important one-point lead.
The Lobos, who went for it on fourth down at the Payson five yard line in the first half, foregoing a chip shot field goal, moved the ball down the field once again, getting into scoring position. A bobbled snap, then a holding call, moved them back and they once gain came up short on fourth and long.
The Longhorns took over at their own 25-yard line, but the Lobo defense held, giving the Snowflake offense one final chance to extend the season.
With the ball at their own 27-yard line the Lobos had 2:32 left on the clock to move into field goal position. Two pass completions moved the ball to their 40-yard line with a first down. Those were followed by two incompletions and a screen pass, which was stuffed by Payson’s defense, leaving Snowflake with a fourth and 13 on its own 43-yard line. The Lobos’ fourth down pass play fell incomplete, leaving Payson with the upset win and sending the Snowflake home for the season with a 9-2 record.
Schneider completed 18 of 25 passes for 191 yards and the Lobos’ lone touchdown. Tate was his favorite target, catching six for 133 with the only score. Hatch caught three for 28; Tanner Willis, three for 12; Solomon, five for nine; and Tyler Brimhall, one for nine.
On the ground, Solomon rushed 15 times for 67 yards. Teagan Peterson gained 37 yards on 12 attempts and Willis carried four times for 14 yards.
