The Winslow Bulldogs came from behind to defeat the Coconino Panthers 21-13 in Flagstaff on Friday. The win improved Winslow’s record to 6-2 for the season and dropped Coconino to 4-4. The Bulldogs erased a 13-6 first half deficit and scored a pair of second half touchdowns while shutting out the Panthers.
The win probably left Winslow in good shape for a playoff berth and possibly even an opportunity to finish high enough in the power point standings to host a playoff game.
All of the first half scoring took place in the first quarter and all came as a result of turnovers by the other team.
Chad LaPointe recovered a Coconino fumble at the Panthers’ 29 yard line and Caleb Layden ran for the first touchdown of the game on the next play. The conversion kick was blocked and the Bulldogs led 6-0.
The Bulldogs muffed a punt and lost the ball at their own 36 yard line and Luke Daulton ran it into the end zone on the next play. Steve Sorden booted the conversion that gave Coconino a 7-6 lead.
Just before the end of the first period, the Bulldogs turned the ball over on downs at their own nine yard line when a bad snap went over the punter’s head. Coconino took advantage of the miscue and scored on a three-yard run by Timmy Teran. The conversion was blocked and Coconino led 13-6 at the end of the first quarter.
There was no scoring in the second quarter, but Coconino had two scoring opportunities which resulted in missed field goal attempts of 34 and 48 yards. The longer attempt came on the final play of the first half.
Kelly Woods ran three yards to complete a nine-play, 67-yard drive for the first score of the third period and the second half. Layden ran for the two-point conversion that gave the Bulldogs a 14-13 lead.
A Winslow scoring drive ended when the Panthers stopped the Bulldogs on downs just a yard from the end zone early in the final period. The Bulldogs recovered a Coconino fumble at the Panthers’ 35 yard line, though, and drove back inside the 10 yard line. James Martinez passed five yards to Henry Montiel for the touchdown that gave the Bulldogs a 21-13 lead after Jonathan Oso booted the conversion. The score came with less than five minutes remaining in the game.
Winslow recovered another Coconino fumble and ran out the clock.
The Bulldogs will journey to Kayenta on Friday, Oct. 21, to meet the Monument Valley Mustangs, who improved their record to 6-2 on Friday with a 12-6 win over the Hornets at Ganado. The Mustangs have also defeated Piñon, 39-7, Rough Rock, 60-0, Many Farms, 55-0, Tuba City, 44-8, and Red Mesa, 41-0. They lost to Chinle 38-7 in the season opener and to Page, 27-6.
