Just when it looked like the Lobos were going to be the top team in the East Region they ran into a Show Low buzz saw that played like the top team in the region last Friday night. The Cougars prevailed by a surprising, lopsided 42-8 final margin.
The loss dropped the Lobos to 6-3 overall and 3-1 in the East. Show Low moved up to 3-1 in the Region, but both teams are looking up at Blue Ridge, the only unbeaten team in region play with a 4-0 mark. Snowflake will host the Yellowjackets this week and the winner will be the East Region champion. If the Lobos get the win, they would have the tiebreaker over Blue Ridge by virtue of head-to-head competition. They would hold the tiebreaker over Show Low due to a better overall conference record even if all three teams finish with 4-1 East Region records, which could happen with a Show Low win at Winslow and a Snowflake win over Blue Ridge Friday night. If Blue Ridge defeats Snowflake on Friday, the Yellowjackets will be the East Region champs.
Maybe the Lobos got caught looking ahead to this Friday’s game and forgot to focus on Show Low. The Cougars handed them their worst loss of the season, snapping the Lobos’ four-game winning streak.
The Cougars jumped on top early, leading 21-0 after the first period. The Lobos found the end zone in the second period on a David Brimhall run. Show Low tacked on two more scores in the second half to secure the big win.
The Cougars entered the game ranked 13th and were in danger of missing the post-season. Snowflake was ranked ninth and was hoped to move into the top eight to secure a first round home game.
Show Low’s Westin Keime scored the game’s first points on a 51-yard run early in the game setting the tone for Show Low. Colton McGinnis scored on a nine yard run just a couple minutes later, extending the Cougar lead. Keime found pay dirt for the third time in the quarter inside the four minute mark of the period, putting Snowflake in the 21-0 hole.
Brimhall’s touchdown run came early in the second period, getting the Lobos closer, but that would be their only touchdown of the night. Keime scored twice more in the second half to finish the night with four scores.
Snowflake’s Traegon Standerfer completed five of 15 passes for 42 yards with one interception. Taden Flake caught two of those passes for 32 yards. Jace Merrell also had two receptions for 13 yards. Brimhall had one catch for a loss.
The Lobos’ rushing game struggled with only 75 yards total on the night. Brimhall had 41 yards on 13 attempts with the one score. Brigden Turley carried two times for 26 yards. Merrell had 19 yards on five rushes. Jake Christensen carried once for two yards.
This week the Lobos wrap up the regular season at home against Blue Ridge. Snowflake won last year’s meeting 28-6, but expect this game to be much closer with the East Region crown on the line.
