The opening round of the Division IV state football playoffs get underway tonight (Nov. 4) with eight first round games scheduled at the site of the higher seeds. While the Holbrook Roadrunners have ended their season, local fans can still watch Snowflake and Winslow host first round games as higher seeds.
Snowflake finished the season as the second ranked team with just one loss. The Lobos will host 15th seeded Window Rock in a game that should not be close. While the Scouts deserve credit for reaching the playoffs, they are nowhere near the caliber of team the Lobos are. Snowflake is getting healthy at the right time of the season and appears headed toward the state title game. About the only suspense in this game will be how long the Lobos decide to play their front line players. Snowflake will advance to the second round with a well rested club to take on Florence, which should easily get past Monument Valley in its first round match up.
Despite three losses to former East Region powers, all ranked in the top three in the state, the Winslow Bulldogs still claimed the fifth overall seed in the bracket and will host 12th seeded Parker tonight. The Broncs come in with a mark of 6-4, although none of their six wins looks overly impressive on paper. Winslow has a young team that has matured impressively under the leadership of a new head coach and should get past to the second round, where the Bulldogs will most likely meet up with an undefeated Seton Catholic team. The Sentinels, who enter the tournament as the fourth overall seed are a big unknown to fans in this area, but they should easily get past the Chinle Wildcats, who have to make a long road trip to the Valley to get sent packing with a loss.
Joseph City is playing in the semifinal round of the Division VI playoffs on Saturday, Nov. 5, at Bradshaw Mountain High School in Prescott. The Wildcats meet up with top seeded Pima as both teams come in with perfect marks at 9-0. Pima barely edged Mogollon by four points during the regular season while Joseph City thoroughly dominated the Mustangs in both meetings this year. On paper the advantage goes to the Wildcats and it will on the field as well. Joseph City will move on to play in its third consecutive state title game, facing either No. 2 Joy Christian or No. 3 St. David next weekend.
