The Winslow Bulldogs’ season ended with a 69-19 loss to the Seton Catholic Sentinels in a Division IV state playoff game played last Saturday night at Seton Catholic in Chandler. The loss brought Winslow’s record to 8-4 while Seton Catholic moved into the semifinals with a perfect 12-0 record.
The Bulldogs were without two of their best players, as Akkeem Foster and C.J. Chacon were both injured and did not play. Both had been star players on both offense and defense. Even so, the Sentinels showed they had enough talent to have probably dominated if all the Bulldogs had been healthy.
Seton Catholic scored on its first three possessions, the first on a 50-yard pass from Zack Wade to Brandon Garcia. The conversion by Michael Marx gave the Sentinels a 7-0 lead. The Sentinels scored the next time they had the ball on a 27-yard pass, again from Wade to Garcia. Marx converted to increase the lead to 14-0 with most of the first quarter left to play. Antonio Campanella scored on a one-yard run the next time the Sentinels had the ball. Marx converted to increase the lead to 21-0.
Jalen Hayes returned the kickoff 95 yards for a Bulldog touchdown. The conversion was blocked, but Winslow had cut the lead to 21-6. That was the only threat Winslow had in the first half, as the Bulldogs did not have a first down in the first quarter.
The Sentinels drove to score on their fourth possession with Wade running two yards for the touchdown. Marx converted to increase the lead to 28-6.
Wade passed 38 yards to Luke Zuluaga and Marx converted to increase the lead to 35-6 and give the Sentinels their fifth touchdown in as many possessions. The first quarter ended with Seton Catholic having established a commanding 35-6 lead.
Wade passed nine yards to George Wolter for the first touchdown of the second quarter. Marx converted to increase the lead to 42-6 with most of the half left to play. It was the Sentinels’ sixth touchdown in as many possessions.
The Bulldogs finally moved the ball and made several first downs in their next possession. Patrick Larson intercepted a Winslow pass to end that drive with just over six minutes left in the half.
Campanella ran five yards for a Seton Catholic touchdown and Marx converted to increase the Sentinels’ lead to 49-6 and give them their seven straight touchdowns in as many possessions.
The Sentinels scored on a 20-yard pass from Wade to Garcia to increase their lead to 56-6 after a Marx conversion. There was a minute remaining in the half after the score and that was the score at the intermission. The touchdown was Seton Catholic’s eighth in as many possessions.
On their first possession of the second half Seton Catholic scored when Garrett Boyd passed 29 yards to Jacob Terrill for the touchdown. The conversion failed due to a bad snap and the Sentinels led 62-6. With the running clock the quarter was nearly over when the Sentinels got the ball back on a pass interception and ended the quarter leading 62-6 after having scored on nine possessions.
Matthew Bresnahan ran 12 yards to score Seton Catholic’s 10th touchdown early in the fourth quarter. Marx converted to increase the commanding lead to 69-6.
Seton Catholic failed to score for the first time in the game after recovering a Sentinel fumble at the Seton Catholic 25 yard line.
Winslow scored on a 28-yard pass from Rey Chavez-Velez to Nick Marquez, who converted to cut the Seton Catholic to 69-13 with just over six minutes left in the game. With reserves in the game most of the second half, the Sentinels again failed to move the ball.
The Bulldogs scored on a 27-yard pass from Chavez-Velez to Dallas Jones on the last play of the game. The conversion failed and Seton Catholic advanced to the semifinals with the 69-19 win.
