With the move to 4A Lobo fans knew their football team would face stiffer competition than they have in recent years in the 3A East. Friday night’s loss to Apache Junction marks the first two-game losing streak Snowflake has had since the 2017-2018 season when they dropped back-to-back games to Kirtland Central and Thatcher in September of that season. Friday night’s 31-10 loss is preceded by last week’s 31-21 loss to ALA Gilbert North.
The Prospectors took the opening kick and put together a long time-consuming drive which eventually ended on a short scoring run. The PAT put the Lobos in a seven-point hole with just three minutes left in the first period.
Snowflake’s first possession ended quickly when an Easton Butler pass was intercepted by Apache Junction. On the next play, the Prospectors doubled their lead with a 36-yard scoring run.
Snowflake appeared to be moving the ball better on their second drive, but a second Butler pick stopped the Lobo drive.
Bradden Lewis turned the tables on Apache Junction with a pick six, which he returned 75 yards putting Snowflake on the board. Sam Brown’s PAT made the score 14-7 in favor of the Prospectors early in the second quarter. Apache Junction then put together another long scoring drive capped by a 39-yard run extending their lead to 21-7 over the Lobos with five minutes left in the half.
Following a Lobo punt, the Prospectors once again put together a long scoring drive. Their short touchdown run late in the half put them on top 28-7. Snowflake trimmed into the lead inside the final minute of the half with a 36-yard field goal from Brown making the score 28-10 at the half.
A scoreless third period was followed by a 26-yard Apache Junction field goal early in the fourth, which ended the scoring with the Lobos on the wrong side of the 31-10 final outcome.
Butler finished the night by completing 17 of 30 for 159 yards with the two picks. Tyler Clare was the leading receiver with three catches for 56 yards. Ezra Baum had five for 41; JJ Lerma, three for 29; Lance Christensen, three for 20; Davyn McCray, two for 12; and Merrick Ulber had a one-yard catch.
On the ground, Lerma led the way with 58 yards on six attempts. Jett McCray carried twice, gaining 16 yards. Lewis had two carries for 10 yards.
Apache Junction finished with 359 yards of total offense compared to 244 yards by the Lobos.
Snowflake is now 4-3 and will drop from their previous No. 4 ranking. This week they host Benjamin Franklin. The Chargers are just 1-6, ranked 39th and should be a good elixir for the Lobos to get back on track to their usual winning ways.
