Homecoming night in Holbrook saw the Roadrunners get off to a sluggish start, but a big second quarter gave them a 22-0 halftime lead over visiting Red Mesa in front of a good-sized homecoming crowd at Roadrunner Stadium.
Holbrook went on to win the game 36-0 and keep their 2A north region title hopes alive.
After a scoreless first quarter, Dustin Tsabetsaye opened the scoring for Holbrook when he hauled in a 25-yard pass from quarterback Roman Candelaria. Ordell Laughter ran in the conversion and the Birds led 8-0. Tsabetsaye then caught a pass from the Red Mesa quarterback, turning the interception into a 55-yard pick-six and extending Holbrook’s lead to 14-0.
Tsabetsaye found the endzone for a third time in the quarter, this time hauling in a 16-yard pass from Candelaria. Laughter’s 2-point run extended the lead to 22-0 at the half.
Sophomore running back Jerimiah Ross found the end zone on a 10-yard run up the middle and also ran in the 2-point conversion, pushing the lead to 30-0.
Holbrook’s final score of the night came on Jonathan Sample’s 15-yard connection with Kevin Brock, making it 36-0.
Sample finished the night with 68 yards on 19 attempts. Drayden Baldonado completed 2 passes for 13 yards. Roman Candelaria completed 4 for 68 yards with 2 touchdowns. He also carried it 3 times, gaining 50 yards.
Ross had one 10-yard rush for a score. Damien Ohlson picked up 38 yards on 3 attempts. Laughter was Holbrook’s primary ball carrier, eclipsing the century mark with 105 yards on 15 attempts. William Cassidy had one 12-yard run.
Tsabetsaye led all receivers with 7 catches for 79 yards and 2 scores. Nathaniel Chatto had one 27-yard catch. Brock caught two for 20 yards. Laughter had one 5-yard reception.
Roman Candelaria led the special teams with 35 yards on a punt return.
With the win, Holbrook balanced their season mark at 4-4. Holbrook will be idle this week as they prepare for the 2A north region crossover game on Oct. 23. The opponent and location won’t be determined until all region games from Oct. 16 are finalized.
Holbrook is well outside the top 24 in the current power rankings and may need to win that crossover game to advance to postseason play on the 30th.
