The Winslow Bulldogs met the Blue Ridge Yellowjackets at Emil Nasser Stadium last Friday with the teams playing a scoreless first half but a good third quarter was the key to a 28-0 Blue Ridge victory.
Winslow took the opening kickoff and did not get a first down. The Yellowjackets got a first down and converted a fourth and one for a first down but turned the ball over on a pass interception by Cameron Wiltbank. Winslow then got a first down near midfield.
The Yellowjackets held and Winslow punted to inside the 25-yard line. Blue Ridge got a first down. The Yellowjackets got into Winslow territory but were penalized on two straight plays and were back near their 20-yard line.
Winslow got the ball back and had a first down near midfield as the first period ended with the Bulldogs in Blue Ridge territory with the game still scoreless.
Winslow got a first down near the Blue Ridge 10 but lost the ball on a fumble. Blue Ridge got a tremendous punt or 64 yards to the Winslow four but the Bulldogs ran over 20 yards on the next play.
The Bulldogs got a first down nearing midfield with the second quarter about half over. Blue Ridge held and got back near midfield on the punt with about two and a half minutes left in the half.
Blue Ridge punted with less than a minute left in the half. The half ended with the game still scoreless.
Blue Ridge took the second half kickoff and quickly got into Winslow territory but were penalized back into their territory. The Yellowjackets had a short punt giving Winslow good field position. The Yellowjackets held and returned the ball to midfield and they then ran to inside the Winslow 15-yard line.
Blue Ridge got a first and goal at the Winslow five-yard line. Zeke Kessay ran five yards for the touchdown and a 6-0 lead after the conversion was missed. There was five minutes and five seconds left in the third quarter after the score.
Blue Ridge’s Reese Esparza blocked a Winslow punt and scored with it. P.J. London passed for a two-point conversion and a 14-0 Blue Ridge lead with about three minutes left in the third quarter.
Pete Kessay ran 30 yards for a touchdown on Blue Ridge’s next possession and the conversion gave them a 21-0 lead. That was the score at the end of the third quarter.
Chase Esparza ran five yards to complete another scoring drive and giving Blue Ridge a 28-0 lead after the conversion with about six minutes left in the game.
The game ended with Blue Ridge winning 28-0.
The Winslow junior varsity had defeated the Blue Ridge junior varsity team 14-2 on Thursday that was scheduled for Pinetop but moved to Winslow because of a wet field.
Winslow will go to Kayenta to meet the Monument Valley Mustangs and to Page to meet the Sand Devils in their next two games.
