The Roadrunners completed a rare feat last week, going 2-0 in varsity football. Teams rarely get to play twice in the same week. Because of wet field conditions at Roadrunner Stadium last Friday night, Holbrook moved its scheduled game with Wickenburg to Monday. So Holbrook played Monday night football. Then on Friday, the Roadrunners traveled to Pinon to take on the Eagles in one of only two sub-region games Holbrook will play this year.
The Roadrunners easily prevailed against an overmatched Wickenburg team, which is basically a JV team as it tries to rebuild its once-proud program.
Holbrook wasted little time in scoring. Drayden Baldonado connected with Nockideneh for a 6-yard scoring toss in the first, making the score 6-0. Baldonado then found Nathaniel Chatto on a 24-yard catch-and-run, extending the lead to 12.
Ordell Laughter accounted for the next 8 points with a 12-yard scoring run and the 2-point conversion run, and Holbrook led 20-0. Laughter scored again in the second and added the 2-point conversion, moving the margin to 28-0.
Still in the second, Roman Candelaria scored on a 17-yard run, then Jeremiah Ross punched in the 2-point conversion, giving Holbrook a 36-0 lead. Holbrook’s final points came on a 22-yard run by Damien Ohlson.
Holbrook led 48-22 at the half, then, because Wickenburg was short of healthy players, both coaches agreed to shorten the second half to eight-minute quarters with a running clock, and the final score was 48-12.
Baldonado completed 19 passes for 85 yards with 2 touchdowns. He also rushed 4 times for 10 yards. Laughter added 80 yards on 8 carries with 2 touchdowns and a pair of 2-point conversions. William Cassidy carried the ball 4 times for 36 yards. Candelaria had 1 carry for 17 yards and a score. Ohlson gained 22 yards and scored.
Myles Nockideneh had 2 receptions for 18 yards. Dustin Tsabetsaye had 4 for 41 yards. Chatto had 1- 24-yard catch.
Friday night, the Roadrunners made the long trip to Pinon to face the Eagles in a game that most likely determined the top seed from the 2A North 1 Division. Holbrook still has to play a struggling Red Mesa team in their second divisional game on Oct. 9 for homecoming.
Pinon scored early and led 8-0. Laughter put Holbrook on the board with a 6-yard run, but the conversion run failed, leaving Holbrook trailing 6-8.
Pinon extended its lead to 10 points with a 1-yard plunge set up by 3 long passes. The conversion was good, and the Eagles led 16-6 at the half.
Early in the third, Holbrook forced an Eagles punt, which they blocked, setting up a short field. Dustin Tsabetsay caught a 12-yard touchdown pass, cutting the deficit to 16-14, as Laughter ran in the 2-point conversion.
The Birds’ final points of the night came when Candelaria scooted in from 3 yards out, putting Holbrook on top 22-16. Candelaria then picked off an Eagle long pass attempt late in the game to basically secure the win for the Roadrunners.
Baldonado had 12 passing attempts for 29 yards with 1 touchdown and 1- 2-point conversion. Candelaria carried the ball 5 times, picking up 71 yards and scoring once. Tsabetsaye had 4 catches for 17 yards.
Holbrook dropped its first three games of the season, but it has now bounced back with three straight wins. Things get a little tougher this week when they travel to Camp Verde. The Cowboys were ranked fifth in 2A before plummeting to No. 16 after this week’s 26-21 loss to Cortez, their only loss of the year.
Last season, Camp Verde cruised past Holbrook’s veteran team 55-20. This year’s younger Roadrunners have an uphill battle on Friday night.
Holbrook is now 3-3 going into Friday’s game at Camp Verde.
