By Greg Perkins The Snowflake Lobos captured the 3A State Football title for the first time since 1993 on Saturday evening with a dominating 38-14 win over previously unbeaten and top ranked Yuma Catholic. Playing in the title game for the first time since 2014 in front of a few hundred Lobo fans in attendance, scaled back due to COVID, Snowflake scored on their second possession of the game, putting Yuma Catholic in a trailing position for the first time all season. The Shamrocks came in with a powerful offense led by Sophomore quarterback Rhett Stallworth who had guided his team to an impressive 46 points per game in their unbeaten season. Stallworth, who is the coach’s son, wasn’t available for much of this game as he was knocked out of the game early with a broken collar bone, leaving the Shamrocks backpedaling and searching for an offense. Even when the top quarterback was in the game early on Snowflake’s defense forced him into several incompletions. Snowflake on the other hand, had their offense in full stride after their first possession ended with a turnover on downs. The second time they got the ball the Lobos put together a 55-yard scoring drive which took nine plays and was capped by Terren Green on a one-yard plunge. Sam Crockett’s point after kick gave the Lobos the early lead. Yuma Catholic returned the ensuing kickoff to midfield only to have Payson Cardon sack the quarterback on third down forcing a punt. Snowflake’s third possession didn’t last all that long thanks to a 62-yard catch and run by Noah Baum who took the ball to the Shamrock four-yard line. Green took care of the rest pushing the lead to 14-0 with Crockett’s kick. Yuma Catholic’s Stallworth suffered his injury on the Shamrocks next possession which really changed their chances, especially with the Lobos playing so well early on anyways. Yuma seemed to find a little life when they blocked a Crockett field goal attempt, but Camden Brimhall quickly took the momentum right back. His 46-yard run capped a five play, 67-yard drive and gave the Lobos a 21-0 lead. Snowflake wasn’t done. Inside the final minute of the half, Baum made a great catch and traveled 25 yards for Snowflake’s fourth first half touchdown with 54 seconds left in the half. Snowflake now led 28-0 and was in full control at the half. Yuma Catholic showed their prowess early in the second half. They scored quickly on a 72-yard run by Jarred Marquez making the scored 28-7. The Shamrocks then recovered their onside kick and found the endzone quickly again on a 25-yard touchdown pass from back-up quarterback Logan Rush to Devon Black, cutting the Lobo lead to 28-14. Yuma tried to recover a second on side kick and when they failed that set Snowflake up with a short field. The Lobos took advantage of good field position and tacked on three more points on a Crockett 39-yard field goal making the score 31-14. That field goal had stopped the Yuma Catholic run but it was the Lobo defense that slammed the door shut on any momentum the Shamrock’s had. Yuma Catholic pushed the ball into Snowflake’s red zone eventually ending up with a first and goal inside the three-yard line. Four rushing plays later the Lobo defense had turned them away on fourth and goal, preserving their 17-point lead and crushing any hopes of a Yuma Catholic comeback bid. Snowflake’s offense took over at the two-yard line and put together a state championship sealing 98-yard scoring drive. That 16-play drive took 8:26 off the clock and resulted in Green’s third and final touchdown of this stellar career. Green scored on a five-yard run and Crockett put Snowflake’s final title point on the board in the 38-14 win. Cantrell completed 10 of 18 passes for 150 yards with one touchdown. He also rushed nine times picking up 41 yards. Green finished with 192 yards on 27 carries with three touchdown runs. Brimhall carried eight times totaling 75 yards with one score. Baum had six catches for 136 yards with a score. Mayson McKinlay caught four passes for a total of 14 yards.
