Like a few other East Region teams, the Snowflake Lobos opened their season last Friday in what is known as zero week, since most schools don’t officially begin the football season until Friday, Aug. 25. The good news for the Lobos is that they easily prevailed over Tuba City, 49-6.
Not only did they win, but fellow East Region teams Blue Ridge, Payson and Show Low lost their season openers by large margins, leaving an early question as to where the power may be this year in the East. With Winslow and Holbrook starting this week, early results already show the Lobos to be the trendy pick for the region, but there is certainly a long way to go.
Traegon Standerfer completed eight of 12 passes for 115 yards with a pair of touchdowns. As a team, the Lobos piled up 192 rushing yards led by Jake Christensen with 44 on only three carries. Cody Fox gained 41; Jace Merrell, 35; Nathan Penrod, 34; David Brimhall and Luke Patterson, 30 each; and Sam Ruehle, 8.
David Brimhall caught three of Standerfer’s tosses for 42 yards. Taden Flake had two receptions for 36 yards and a score. Tyler Brimhall caught two for 22 yards and another score. Cody Fox pulled in a 15-yard catch.
Head Coach Kay Solomon currently has a plethora of upper classmen on his roster. Seventeen seniors and 13 juniors are joined by only two sophomores on the varsity.
Last year the Lobos finished with a stellar overall record of 9-2, finishing as the second overall seed in the state tournament. Unfortunately, their season ended in the first round where they were upset by 15th seeded Payson.
This year Snowflake should once again be built to make the post-season and advance deeper than the first round.
On Friday, the Lobos should easily move to 2-0 on the season in their home opener against Chinle.
