A week full of Homecoming activities ended on a negative note last Friday night when Blue Ridge took the shine off what was an otherwise good week with a 48-0 shellacking of the Roadrunners.
Holbrook’s defense has struggled throughout the season and the Yellowjackets quickly took advantage, scoring both through the air as their receivers got behind Roadrunner defenders and on the ground behind their powerful tailback.
Blue Ridge started the scoring with six minutes left in the first period on a 32-yard touchdown pass. The Jackets’ next possession also ended in a scoring toss, this one coming from 25 yards out to make the lead 14-0 at the end of the first quarter.
Early in the second a 10-yard touchdown run pushed the lead to 21-0. Midway through the Jackets tossed their third scoring pass of the game, this one coming from 10 yards out to push the lead to 27-0. By the time the half was over Blue Ridge had extended its cushion to 41-0.
Holbrook’s offense struggled throughout the first half. Near the end of the half the Roadrunners briefly got something working behind their exciting running back/receiver, Jeffrey Jones, who is a threat to score every time he touches the ball. Unfortunately, time ran in the first half just when they started to move the ball for the first time in the game.
Blue Ridge added yet another scoring pass early in the third period to get the game to the mercy running clock rule before ending it 48-0.
Holbrook’s Frankie Ulibarri finished the night by completing six of 20 passes for 71 yards with two interceptions. Jones had three catches for a total of 61 yards. Jalen Nez caught the other three for 10 yards.
On the ground the Birds were held in check, finishing with just 84 total yards. Zakhari Waits carried eight times, picking up 41 yards. Jones had 35 yards on just three runs. Ulibarri rushed four times for seven yards and Finn Kinghorn had two carries for a total of five yards.
Holbrook had a tough time taking care of the ball with two interceptions and four fumbles on the night. In each case, those miscues gave Blue Ridge a short field to work with.
Ulibarri led the defense with 11 stops. Ambrose Jackson anchored the defensive line for Holbrook with seven tackles. Kinghorn had six.
The Roadrunners, now 2-4 on the season, will try to regroup this week and will welcome in the Show Low Cougars, who earned a win over Payson last weekend, on Friday, Oct. 6.
