The Lobos joined their fellow East Region members with an opening round exit in the 3A State football playoffs on Saturday evening. With Blue Ridge and Show Low also bowing out in the first round, this will be the first time in several years the 3A East has not had at least one representative advance into the second round of the state playoffs.
The Lobos entered the bracket as the No. 10 seed and had to make a journey to Yuma to face the No. 7 Shamrocks. That long bus ride and the Shamrock’s talent was enough to end Snowflake’s season with a 44-16 loss to Yuma Catholic.
The Shamrocks had built a 28-8 lead in the second quarter and held that margin at the half. Early in the third period the higher seeded team pushed that margin to 34-8 with a short rushing touchdown. Three minutes later Snowflake’s Traegon Standerfer connected with Garrett Wood on a 15-yard touchdown pass which ended up being the final time this season Snowflake would find the end zone in the season ending loss. Yuma tacked on a field goal late in the third then finished off the Lobos with one final score late in the fourth.
The Lobos finished the game with Standerfer completing 12 of 24 passes for 148 yards with one touchdown and one interception. David Brimhall completed his only pass of the night for four yards. Brimhall led the Snowflake rushing attack with 55 yards and a touchdown on 17 attempts. Cody Fox gained 44 on just five runs. Jace Merrell gained 28 on seven runs. Brigden Turley had seven yards on two runs.
Taden Flake had two catches for a total of 47 yards. Fox caught three for 42 yards. Brimhall had five grabs for 28 yards. Davis Kay caught one for 16 yards, and Garrett Wood had one for 15 yards, which went for the score. Jace Merrell had one four yard reception.
The Shamrocks proved worthy of their high ranking, finishing the game with 451 yards of total offense in a balanced attack. Sophomore quarterback Gage Reese completed 11 of 18 attempts for 249 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions. They also piled up 201 rushing yards in the win.
Snowflake had a fine season finishing with an overall record of 7-4. Show Low, the highest seeded East team fell to No. 8 Northwest Christian by a final of 31-14, and No. 11 Blue Ridge had their season end on the road at No. 6 Florence where the Gophers prevailed 40-27.
