The Division IV state football playoffs get underway on Saturday night, Nov. 7, with Snowflake and Winslow both reaching the post-season. The Lobos wrapped up the regular season with a 9-1 record and are seeded fifth in the 16-team bracket. Winslow, which entered the final week of the season ranked 16th, remained in that position despite its loss to Blue Ridge. The Bulldogs’ power point strength of schedule is what enabled them to reach the playoffs with their 5-5 season record.

As the fifth seed, Snowflake will host the Dysart Demons, who finished the season as the 12th overall seed with a 7-3 record. Their three losses were to top ranked Yuma Catholic, fourth seeded Estrella Foothills and eighth seeded Northwest Christian. Snowflake’s lone loss in 10 games was to second ranked Show Low. Dysart’s record is impressive, but Snowflake should be too much to handle. With the game in Snowflake, the colder weather will give the Lobos an even larger advantage. Dysart’s opponents throughout the season don’t stack up to the caliber of Snowflake’s. That, along with the game being at home, will be enough to send the Lobos to the second round.

If the Lobos win, they would face either No. 13 Pueblo Magnet in Snowflake or No. 4 Estrella Foothills in Goodyear next week.

Playing as the 16th seed is always a good news/bad news situation. Yes, you made the state tournament, but your reward for doing so is a matchup with the top ranked team. In this case Winslow will travel to Yuma for a match up with the Shamrocks of Yuma Catholic, who have posted an unblemished record with 10 wins. Yuma Catholic has really been tested just twice this season with a six-point win over No. 4 Estrella Foothills, and a five-point win over No. 6 and defending state champion River Valley. Winslow struggled in losses to Snowflake and Show Low, but came within two touchdowns of Blue Ridge. With this game being in Yuma, that is a long bus trip against a solid opponent. Those two things will most likely add up to the end of Winslow’s season.

If the Bulldogs can pull off the upset, they would travel to either No. 8 Flowing Wells or No. 9 Northwest Christian next week.