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Holbrook went into Payson on Friday night to face an overmatched team in the Longhorns. The home team wasted little time proving they were the better squad. Thirteen seconds into the game the Longhorns were on top 7-0 after Jesse Conway returned the opening kickoff 82 yards for the first of their 62 points on the night.
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The second time Payson touched the ball they also scored. Holbrook had a broken coverage on defense leaving Payson’s Conway open and he caught a Trevor Cline pass and scooted 92 yards to pay dirt making the score 14-0 before the first period was half over. Following a Holbrook interception, the Longhorns again scored quickly on a 27-yard touchdown pass making the score 21-0 after the first period.
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The Longhorns didn’t slow down in the second scoring three more times with each drive lasting three plays or less and Payson led 48-0 at the half.
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With a running clock in the second half, Payson didn’t score until the final minute of the third period on a 55-yard run pushing the margin to 55-0.
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Holbrook got on the board midway through the fourth on a six-yard touchdown pass from Marcus Oberriter to Tyson Begay on a quick slant pass. Oberriter punched in the two point conversion making the score 55-8.
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In the final two minutes of the game Holbrook again showed they could move the ball, especially against Payson’s non-starters and the Roadrunners capped a nice scoring drive with a 17-yard scoring strike from Oberriter to Izzy Ramos making the score 55-14. Oberriter again added the two-point run. Payson added one final score on a 55-yard run by a back-up running back with 1:13 left in the game.
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Holbrook struggled with turnovers in the game, giving the ball up four times, with three interceptions and one fumble. Gabe Baker was also tackled for a big loss while in punt formation setting up the Longhorns with a short field.
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This was Holbrook’s opening East Region game and while they did show moments of being able to move the ball, even against the Payson starters, they didn’t have much success stopping Payson’s offensive outbursts. The Longhorns entered that game ranked 23rd in power points. Things will only get tougher for Holbrook with four games remaining.
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This week they will host Winslow who is coming off a one point upset win over Show Low on Friday night. The battle of I-40 has belonged to the Bulldogs for nearly two decades. Holbrook’s young team will need to play very well to keep the Roadrunners in the game.
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