The Winslow Bulldogs defeated the Parker Broncs 20-13 in a hard fought Division IV state playoff game played at Winslow on Saturday. The win improved Winslow’s record to 8-3 and sent the Bulldogs into a second round game against the Seton Catholic Sentinels at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 15, in Chandler. The loss ended Parker’s season with a 7-4 record.

Winslow failed to make good on a fourth and one gamble and gave the Broncs good field position at their 41 yard line. Parker then drove 59 yards in 11 plays and scored on a one-yard run by quarterback Cody Esquerra on a fourth and goal play. The conversion run failed and Parker led 6-0 with just 2:27 left in the first quarter. That was the only score of the period.

Parker lost the ball on downs at the Winslow 39 yard line when a surprising fourth and six gamble failed. The Broncs dodged that bullet, but the Bulldogs drove 62 yards and scored on an eight-yard run by Akkeem Foster the next time they had the ball. Nick Marquez converted to give Winslow a 7-6 lead with 4:32 left in the half. That was the score at the intermission.

In the third quarter Winslow had a threat that ended when Ryan Gray intercepted a Bulldog pass in the end zone and returned it nearly to midfield. The Broncs were in Winslow territory when the quarter ended with Bulldogs still leading 7-6.

Winslow got a huge break when Rey Chavez-Velez recovered a Parker fumble at the Bronc 29 yard line. Darrien “Peanut” Brown scored on a 14-yard run and Marquez converted to give Winslow a 14-6 lead with 6:28 left in the game.

Chavez-Velez, who had an excellent game as the Winslow quarterback, came up with another key defensive play when he intercepted a Parker pass at the Winslow 33 yard line. The Bulldogs drove 67 yards to score on an eight-yard run by Brown. That drive was kept alive by a fourth and 10 pass from Chavez-Velez to Foster. The conversion was blocked and Winslow led 20-6 with just 3:15 left in the game.

Jonathan Metarsney returned the kickoff 80 yards to get Parker back into the game. The conversion by Javier Torres cut the Winslow lead to 20-13 with 3:03 left in the game. Winslow recovered the all-important onside kickoff and had driven to the shadow of the Parker goal post when the game ended with the Bulldogs winning 20-13.

The game was well played by both teams. Winslow featured a running attack with Foster, Brown and Avery Smith turning in good performances. Foster was also a major factor on the Bulldog defense, as were Trey Hardy and Chavez-Velez.

The Seton Catholic Sentinels pounded the Page Sand Devils 70-0 last Saturday to improve to a perfect 11-0 for the season. The Sentinels are the top seed in the playoffs. Winslow is the eighth seed and Parker was the ninth seed.