The Snowflake Lobos football team’s 12-game winning streak came to an end on Friday night in the semifinal round of the 4A State playoffs. Arizona College Prep put an end to the Lobos’ season with a 59-21 final score.
Things looked good early on for the third seeded Lobos. They took the opening kickoff and marched down the field, scoring on their fourth play of the game. Jacob LaDuke connected with Merrick Ulberg for a 68-yard catch and run in the first minute of the game. Sam Brown’s point after kick gave Snowflake an early 7-0 lead.
The second-seeded Knights didn’t take long to answer. They returned the ensuing kickoff 95 yards, tying the score at 7-7. Snowflake’s second possession didn’t go as well as their first. The Lobos fumbled the ball, and it was returned for a touchdown by AZ College Prep, making the score 14-7. That fumble was one of three turnovers on the day for the Lobos.
Possession number three also ended with a turnover. LaDuke’s pass was intercepted, leaving the Knights with the ball near midfield. The Knights turned that into another score taking a 21-7 lead still in the first quarter.
AZ College Prep’s special teams then got into the act. They blocked a Lobo punt and returned it for their fourth touchdown of the first quarter to lead 28-7. Snowflake countered late in the period with a 30-yard run by Kanton Turley closing the gap to 28-14 with Brown’s kick.
The Knights extended their lead early in the second on a short touchdown pass, making the score 35-14. Snowflake then put together their best drive of the game, which culminated in a five-yard touchdown run by Karter Raban, making the score 35-21. Sadly, for Lobo fans, those would be the final points of the season.
AZ College Prep added a 36-yard field goal late in the half, making their cushion 38-21 at the intermission.
Late in the third quarter, another miscue by the Lobos resulted in a Knight score when they returned Snowflake’s fumble nine yards, extending their margin to 45-21. The Knights tacked on two more scores in the fourth quarter eventually winning the game 59-21.
Playing in the state semifinal rounds, teams cannot afford to turn the ball over. The Lobos finished with three turnovers and had one punt blocked for a score. AZ College Prep was simply too good to give them that many short fields.
Snowflake’s LaDuke completed seven of 17 passes for 94 yards with one touchdown and one pick. Ulberg caught four balls for 90 yards with one long score. Ezra Baum had two catches for one yard, and Raban had one three-yard reception.
The Lobos did finish with 206 rushing yards. Turley gained 117 of those on 14 attempts. LaDuke rushed 11 times for 77 yards. Raban also carried 11 times picking up 38 yards with a score.
Snowflake ends their season one game short of the title game. Regardless their overall record of 12-1 is something to be proud of.
AZ College Prep will face Micah Mountain in the 4A State Championship game. The Thunderbolts defeated top-seed Yuma Catholic 24-14 in the other semifinal game.
