As expected, the Lobos improved their season mark to 5-0 with an easy 61-41 win over visiting Marcos de Niza on Friday night. Snowflake now sits in the top spot in the 4A football rankings with that perfect mark.
Snowflake’s scoring started quickly for Lobo fans when Brenner Green returned the opening kickoff 95 yards for a score. McCoy Norton booted the PAT, and the Lobos led early, 7-0.
The Lobos first official offensive possession was a three-and-out, but Green capped the second drive with a 43-yard scoring run. The 2-point conversion failed, leaving Snowflake on top 13-0 at the end of the first quarter.
After the teams traded turnovers, the Lobos capped a 99-yard scoring drive with a 59-yard touchdown pass from Jacob LaDuke to Green. The PAT missed, but Snowflake led 19-0 at the half.
Marcos de Niza scored on their first possession of the second half, connecting on a 72-yard catch-and-run to make it 19-7 after the successful kick.
For the second time of the game, the Lobos returned the kickoff for a score, with Eli Willis booking a 75-yard return. Norton’s PAT was good, moving the score to 26-7.
Green rumbled in from 62 yards out, pushing the lead to 33-7 midway through the third quarter.
Issac Woodside intercepted a Padres pass, setting up the offense with a short field. Green quickly scored from 6 yards out, extending the lead to 40-7.
Marcos de Niza scored from 6 yards out, closing the gap to 40-15.
Yet, another Green scoring run, this time from 20 yards out, made it 47-15, still in the third quarter.
The Padres scored again in the fourth on a short pass for their final points of the night, making it 47-21.
A long kickoff return set up Snowflake’s next score: an Otto Mills 23-yard run that pushed the lead to 54-21.
The final points of the night came from the Lobo defense, with Levi LaDuke scooping up a fumble and returning it 40 yards for a score. Norton’s final kick was good, making the final score 21-21 in favor of the Lobos.
Green had a huge night. He carried it 12 times, gaining 179 yards with four touchdowns. His fifth touchdown came on a 59-yard catch-and-run.
Colter Willis had one 28-yard catch. Edge Bryant had one catch for 26 yards. Mason Raban picked up 11 yards on 2 catches.
Along with Green’s yards, Mills carried twice for 28 yards and 1 touchdown. Jacob LaDuke rushed 4 times for 10 yards, and Krew Burden had 1 4-yard carry.
Jacob LaDuke completed 5 of 12 passes for 124 yards with 1 touchdown and 1 interception. Maverick Greer completed 1 pass for 3 yards.
This week the Lobos will host Poston Butte. Snowflake blanked the Broncos last year, 41-0. This year’s team is 1-4, so expect the Lobos to remain on top of the 4A Standings following Friday’s action.
