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Football season has arrived for all six teams in the 3A East with every team being in action this Friday night, and from top to bottom teams in the region will be looking to build from last year. Collectively, last season was a down year for the region teams. While four of the teams: Snowflake, Blue Ridge, Show Low and Winslow, all made the 3A State Tournament bracket, only the Lobos managed to escape the first round. Snowflake fell in the second round marking the first time in many years that the final four in 3A football didn’t involve at least one East Region team.
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Winslow and Blue Ridge jump right into region action when the Yellowjackets host Winslow. Last season, Blue Ridge traveled to Winslow in the first week of the campaign and thumped the Bulldogs 28-0. This time the match-up is in Lakeside where Blue Ridge is traditionally very tough to beat. Winslow snuck into the playoffs last season as the 16th overall seed. Blue Ridge was seeded sixth but lost at home to Sabino. Blue Ridge has one of the top quarterbacks in the region in PJ Landon, which might be enough for them to handle the Bulldogs once again.
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Payson will host the Page Sand Devils who finished last season as the fourth overall seed in the state tournament. The Longhorns have been a traditional fixture in the state tournament but last season they missed out. Page is an intriguing team in that they will more than likely control the 3A North region and once again garner a high seed based on power points. Payson is looking forward to a return trip to the playoffs. Playing in Page last year the Longhorns limped home with a 42-21 setback. Playing at home might give them more of a chance. Was Page’s high seed last year a fluke? This early test in Payson may give a clue for the rest of the season.
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Show Low is facing Round Valley in what has become a traditional rivalry. The Cougars finished last year as the 15th overall seed, but fell in the first round. The Elks went 8-2 last season with their second loss coming in the 2A State Championship game. Round Valley won in Show Low by a touchdown last year. Playing in the Dome has been a huge advantage for Elks over the years. Show Low is expected to be much improved this season. Friday night’s game in Round Valley will be an early litmus test as to where they are.
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Snowflake was the only East Region team to finish the season rankings in the top five. The Lobos made the post season as the third overall seed. After cruising in the first round they had their season come to a close in the second round. Snowflake went 8-1 last season, which included a 22-7 home field win over Safford in week one. This year Snowflake travels to Safford. The Bulldogs dropped their first three games last season but lost only once after that. Snowflake was the class of the East Region last year. Friday’s game will give an early idea of where they are this year.
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Holbrook’s football season was a disaster last year. They won their first outing against Chinle but that was the only highlight of a disappointing season that saw the team forfeit two of their games due to not having enough players suited up to play.
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The Roadrunners now have a new young coach who is challenged with turning the program around. Chris Starke has been an assistant at two other programs, the latest in River Valley, but this is his first head coaching job. Coach Starkey came into the picture last spring and since that time he has made quick improvements to the program off the field.
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When the Roadrunners take the field at home on Friday against Arizona Lutheran, fans will have a chance to see how those improvements translate to the turf. Coach Starkey and his staff will be looking to make quick strides in righting the ship. Arizona Lutheran went 9-3 last season in the 2A ranks. They won their first-round state game in fine fashion but got hammered by Round Valley in the second round. The Coyotes, despite making the trip up from the Valley, will give Holbrook a good measuring stick to see exactly where they are in the new season.
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Joseph City doesn’t begin their season until Aug. 31 when they face Bagdad in the Dome.
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