The Winslow Bulldogs defeated the Coconino Panthers 24-14 last Friday night in Flagstaff to remain undefeated at 5-0. Coconino fell to 1-4.
The Panthers got off to a good start, scoring on a 35-yard pass from Bryce Wright to Kyle Casados after recovering a fumble, then a muffed punt. The conversion by Casados gave Coconino a 7-0 lead.
The Panthers threatened again at the end of the first quarter, but Yoaan Djassa intercepted a pass in the end zone as the quarter ended with Coconino leading 7-0.
The Bulldogs had not moved the ball in the first period, but started the second with a drive. Coconino held and took over on downs around the Panther 30 yard line.
The Bulldogs got the ball back on a fumble and scored on a 14-yard pass from Brennan Sawyer to Jalen Lyons. The conversion pass was incomplete and the Panthers led 7-6 with half of the second quarter played.
Coconino got an interception near midfield and threatened with less than a minute left in the half, but was forced to punt with only seconds remaining. The halftime score remained 7-6.
The Bulldogs drove to the shadow of the Coconino goal post, but lost the ball on downs. They got the ball back on an interception and were inside the Coconino 20 yard line when the Panthers stopped them again and took the ball on downs.
Winslow’s Daniel Vizcaya recovered a fumble on the next play on the Coconino 22 yard line. The Bulldogs scored on a fourth down, 22-yard pass from Sawyer to Djassa, who made a circus catch. The conversion run failed, but Winslow had its first lead at 12-7 with about three minutes left in the third quarter.
The Panthers were inside the Winslow 20 yard line when the third quarter ended with Winslow leading 12-7.
Justin Brown scored for Coconino on a five-yard run on the first play of the fourth quarter. Casados converted to increase Coconino’s lead to 14-12.
The Panthers intercepted a Winslow pass at their 15-yard line with about seven minutes left in the game, then drove into Winslow territory.
Sawyer recovered a Coconino fumble, and on a 56-yard pass from Sawyer to Mikel Bonner, the Bulldogs were at the Coconino five yard line. Bonner then ran five yards for the touchdown that gave Winslow the lead. The conversion attempt failed and the Bulldogs led 18-14 with three and a half minutes left to play.
Djassa intercepted a Coconino pass and returned it 40 yards for the touchdown that gave Winslow a 24-14 edge with just three minutes left after the conversion run failed.
Noah Upchurch intercepted a Coconino pass and returned it to where he fumbled into the Coconino end zone, where the ball was recovered by the Panthers with just two minutes left in the game.
The game ended with Winslow on top 24-14.
The Bulldogs will face their most serious test of the season on Friday, Sept. 29, when the Snowflake Lobos come to Emil Nasser Stadium. Snowflake is struggling some this season with a 3-2 record and had a bye last week. The Lobos defeated Tuba City 49-6 and Chinle 55-6, but lost to Kirkland Central 21-14 and Thatcher 27-6. The Lobos won their last game 13-10 over Safford.
