The Lobos vs Show Low matchup used to be one of the biggest 3A rivalries in the state. Now that the Lobos play in 4A and the Cougars remain at the 3A level, doesn’t diminish the competitiveness of this rivalry at least on paper. However, on the field things may be different. Last season Snowflake won this match-up 55-17. Friday night’s score in Show Low wasn’t as close, with the Lobos pitching a 42-0 shutout win.
Snowflake took control of the game early, posting 21 first-quarter points. Christian Smith set his team up in great shape, returning Show Low’s first punt for a 95-yard touchdown return.
Kanton Turley found paydirt on an 11-yard run midway through the period, pushing the lead to 14-0. Ezra Baum scored on a 4-yard run late in the period, extending the lead to 21-0 with Sam Brown’s PAT kick. Show Low moved the ball inside the Lobo 5-yard line late in the half but failed to score, leaving the Lobos with a 21-0 halftime lead.
With three minutes left in the third, Jacob LaDuke scored on a 50-yard run pushing the lead to 28-0. LaDuke then found Smith for a 32-yard catch and run midway through the fourth. Snowflake’s final score came on a short 5-yard run by Karter Raban making the final score 42-0.
LaDuke completed 8 of 11 passes for 103 yards, with one touchdown. He was also the team’s leading rusher, picking up 80 yards on five attempts and another score. Raban carried 11 times, gaining 69 yards with two scores. Turley had 10 totes for 64 yards and a score. Merrick Ulberg rushed twice, gaining 26 yards and Judd Flake had one 8-yard run.
Smith was LaDuke’s favorite target, catching four balls for 45 yards and a score. Graham Silverhorn had one 35-yard grab. Skip Bawden had one for 11 yards, Baum had one for 7 yards and Ulberg caught one for 5 yards.
Aaden Coor led the Lobo defensive unit with 18 tackles. Hayydn Nichols added 15.
This week the 3-0 Lobos will host Gilbert. The Tigers come in with a 0-3 record and should be the victims of Snowflake’s 4-0 start to the season.
