Since losing their first game of the season the Lobos have run off 10 consecutive wins including their dominating 44-13 quarterfinal round win over Thatcher on Friday night. They are now in the semi-final round of the 3A state playoffs and two wins away from going back-to-back in championships.
Thatcher started the scoring first midway through the opening quarter on a 24-yard touchdown pass from Wyatt Larson to his receiver Brandon Napier. The two-point conversion failed but the Eagles led 6-0.
Snowflake’s opening drive ended with a three and out and the Eagles were looking solid early on. Snowflake’s defense held the visitors on their second possession which seemed to kick start the Lobo offense. With two minutes left in the period, Caden Cantrell found Davyn McCray for a 39-yard catch and run. Sam Crockett’s point after boot gave Snowflake the 7-6 lead, which held until the close of the first quarter.
The Eagles were driving again early in the second when Jace LeSueur picked off an Eagle pass attempt inside Snowflake’s 20-yard line.
Camden Brimhall then exploded for an 80-yard rushing touchdown pushing the lead to 14-6 with Crockett’s point after kick.
Thatcher’s next possession also ended in an interception when Rhett Wengert picked off the Eagle aerial at Thatcher’s 27-yard line. This pick led to Brimhall’s second rushing touchdown of the half from two yards out, extending the Lobo lead to 21-6 and putting Snowflake in control of the game with five minutes left in the first half.
Snowflake’s defense picked off the Eagles for a third consecutive drive, this one coming from Bradden Lewis. Jett McCray turned it into points just before the half ended on a 13-yard touchdown run. Crockett’s point after made the lead 28-6 at the half.
Snowflake’s first possession of the second half resulted in more points when Cantrell found Noah Baum from 14 yards away pushing the lead to 34-6.
Near the end of the period, Cantrell found Baum for a 65-yard scoring strike moving the lead to 41-6.
Crockett ended the Lobo scoring early in the fourth period with a 34-yard field goal.
Thatcher scored a late touchdown but the Lobos advanced to the 3A semi-finals next Friday.
Cantrell was very efficient completing eight of his 12 passes for 189 yards with three touchdowns. Baum had two of those scores, with three receptions for 88 yards. Eduardo Guevara had one 44-yard catch. Davyn McCray had a 34-yard touchdown catch. Tyler Clare had two receptions for 31 yards, and Jett McCray had three catches for a total of 27 yards.
Brimhall gained 126 yards on just nine runs and scored twice. Jett McCray picked up 37 yards on five rushes scoring once. Wengert gained 15 yards on five totes.
Snowflake entered the playoffs as the No. 2 overall seed and will face No. 3, Valley Christian, at 2 p.m. at Campo Verde High School on Saturday afternoon. The Trojans took care of No. 6 River Valley in the only quarterfinal round game that was close, with the higher seed winning 35-28.
Snowflake’s game will be a rematch of the seasoning opening game for the Lobos. They fell to Valley Christian in Chandler way back on Aug. 27 by a final of 38-24. The Trojans’ only loss this season came at the hands of top-ranked ALA Gilbert North on Oct. 22.
The other semi-final game will be a match-up of No. 1 ALA Gilbert North and No. 4 Yuma Catholic. Both those teams rolled to easy wins last week. This game will be played at 6 p.m. at Campo Verde High School on Saturday evening.
The two winners will meet in the 3A championship game at 6 p.m. on Nov. 27.
