The Snowflake Lobos defeated the Bulldogs 54-28 last Friday night in Winslow. The victory improved Snowflake’s record to 4-2 and dropped Winslow’s to 5-1. The Lobos used a powerful running attack in what was their most important win of the season.
Snowflake was struggling some this season, coming into the game with a 3-2 record after a bye the previous week. The Lobos defeated Tuba City 49-6 and Chinle 55-6, but lost to Kirtland Central from New Mexico, 21-14, and Thatcher, 27-6. The Lobos won their last game 13-10 over Safford. Snowflake has traditionally been a tough opponent for the Bulldogs.
Winslow had an early touchdown negated on a holding call. A 60-yard pass from Junior Villanueva to Yoaan Djassa was erased on the penalty. Snowflake held and drove into Winslow territory.
The Lobos drove 84 yards and scored on a nine-yard run by Tyler Brimhall. The conversion run failed and Snowflake led 6-0 with a little over half of the first quarter gone.
Winslow scored on the first play after the kickoff on a 72-yard pass from Villanueva to Djassa. Villanueva ran for the two-point conversion that gave the Bulldogs an 8-6 lead.
Snowflake drove and scored on a 19-yard run by Jace Merrell. The conversion kick failed, but the Lobos had regained the lead at 12-8 with four minutes left in the quarter.
The Bulldogs scored on a 10-yard pass from Villanueva to Jalen Lyons. He then hit Brennan Sawyer for the two-point conversion. Seconds later the first quarter ended with Winslow leading 16-12.
Winslow had another touchdown negated by penalties on both teams, erasing a 68-yard run. The Lobos drove to the Winslow 24 yard line, where the Bulldogs held and took the ball on downs. The Lobos stopped Winslow’s drive and took the ball on downs about 30 yards from the end zone.
The first half ended with Winslow leading 16-12.
Snowflake drove on its first possession of the second half and Tyler Brimhall scored on a 10-yard run. He then ran for the two-point conversion that gave the Lobos a 20-16 lead.
The Lobos managed to stop the Winslow punter and took the ball on downs at the Winslow 15 yard line. A couple of plays later, they scored on a seven-yard run by Jake Christensen. The conversion run failed and Snowflake led 26-16.
Winslow quickly came back to score on a 76-yard pass from Villanueva to Djassa. The conversion failed and Snowflake led 26-22 halfway through the third quarter.
The Bulldogs recovered a fumble near midfield, the first turnover of the night for Snowflake. The third quarter ended with Snowflake still leading 26-22 after forcing Winslow to punt.
Winslow got its second fumble recovery on the Snowflake 31 yard line. Leeander Keams recovered the fumble. Winslow had another touchdown negated by a penalty for an ineligible receiver down field, erasing a touchdown throw from Villanueva to Sawyer. Villanueva ran five yards for the touchdown that gave Winslow a 28-26 lead after the conversion run failed.
The Lobos drove 69 yards for the touchdown that gave them a 34-28 lead. Traegon Standerfer ran 20 yards for the score, then ran for the two-point conversion.
Another fumble by the Winslow punter gave Snowflake the ball on the Winslow nine-yard line. The Bulldogs took the ball on downs at the 12-yard line after some strange calls against both teams. Three more minutes remained in the game.
Snowflake recovered a Winslow fumble and scored on a seven-yard run by David Brimhall. The successful two-point conversion run increased the Snowflake lead to 42-28.
The Lobos recovered a Winslow fumble, which David Brimhall picked up and ran 48 yards for the touchdown. The conversion failed and Snowflake led 48-28.
Snowflake’s Davis Kay picked up a Winslow fumble and ran 44 yards for a touchdown. The conversion kick failed and Snowflake led 54-28 with less than a minute left in the game.
Two Bulldog linebackers missed the game due to injuries, and that likely aided the Snowflake running game.
The Bulldogs will journey to Lakeside on Friday, Oct. 6, to meet the Blue Ridge Yellowjackets. The Jackets have not been the formidable team they were for years, but have an interesting record.
They opened with a 40-7 loss to Page, a team the Bulldogs beat the next week. They defeated the Window Rock Scouts 66-0 and got a big 22-12 win over St. Johns. Then came a 35-0 loss to Northwest Christian and a 41-16 loss to Florence. At Holbrook last Friday, the Yellowjackets won 48-0.
