The Winslow Bulldogs defeated the Hornets 50-3 last Friday night in Ganado. The win improved the Bulldogs’ record to 5-3 for the season and improved their chance for a favorable playoff berth. Ganado fell to 4-4.
Winslow completely dominated the first half and there was no doubt of the outcome long before the halftime break. The second half was played mostly by Bulldog reserves and they played to avoid running up the score.
The Bulldogs scored the first time they touched the ball as C.J. Chacon returned the Ganado punt 75 yards to pay dirt. The conversion run failed and Winslow led 6-0 with only half a dozen plays having been run.
The next time the Bulldogs had the ball they drove 63 yards and scored on a three-yard run by Chacon. The conversion kick by Nick Marquez gave Winslow a 13-0 lead. The clock was being kept on the field and it was estimated that the first quarter was still less than half over. Neither team scored in the remainder of the quarter, but the Bulldogs had the ball near midfield when the quarter ended.
Rey Chavez-Velez passed 36 yards to Akkeem Foster for a touchdown early in the second quarter. Marquez booted the extra point for a 20-0 lead. The next time the Bulldogs had the ball they scored on the longest play of the game, a 99-yard pass from Chavez-Velez to Foster on a third and long play. Marquez converted for a commanding 27-0 Winslow lead with about half of the second quarter left to play.
The rout continued as Chavez-Velez hit Chacon on a six-yard scoring pass and Marquez booted the conversion for a 34-0 lead. Nearing the end of the half Chavez-Velez hit Chacon again with a 14-yard scoring pass. Marquez converted for a 41-0 lead at the intermission.
The second half started as the first one had with Foster running 53 yards for a touchdown just a couple of plays into the half. The conversion failed and Winslow led 47-0 with most of the half left to play. The lead should have been enough for the rest of the game to be played with a running clock unless the Hornets closed the gap.
The Bulldogs played the reserves most of the remainder of the game and Marquez missed a first down 30-yard field goal attempt the next time Winslow was inside the Ganado 20 yard line. The next time Winslow had the ball after a Ganado fumble Marquez hit a 31-yard field goal on second down for a 50-0 lead. That was the score going into the final period.
Winslow attempted a field goal on third down with about five minutes left in the game. The Bulldog reserves had continued to move the ball and threaten to score, but were content to keep the score down.
Ganado got in the shadow of the Winslow goal posts with just seconds left in the game. After several losses the Hornets scored on a 39-yard field goal by Michael Jones on the final play of the game. The field goal made the final score 50-3, but allowed the Hornets to score in their Senior Night game.
The Bulldog junior varsity also defeated the Ganado jayvees in Winslow on Thursday.
The Bulldogs will journey to Chinle to meet the Wildcats on Friday, Oct. 24, and host the Page Sand Devils on Friday, Oct. 31, to end the regular season.
