By Greg Perkins Snowflake entered the 3A State Playoffs as the No. 2 overall seed and easily cruised past the 15th seeded Monument Valley Mustangs at Lobo field on Friday night, 68-7 to advance to the quarterfinal round. The Lobos scored 27 first quarter points and were never threatened by the north region champion Mustangs. Caden Cantrell connected with Tyler Clare from 15 yards out for the first touchdown of the night on Snowflake’s opening drive. The Mustangs moved into field goal range on their first possession but the attempt missed. One play later Cantrell found Camden Brimhall for a 74-yard catch and run pushing the lead to 14-0 with Crockett’s point after kick. Following a Bradden Lewis interception, Snowflake scored again, this time on a Cantrell 10-yard run. Monument Valley put together a long scoring drive and avoided the shut out with a short four-yard touchdown pass making the score 21-7 in favor of the Lobos. Brimhall scored on a 25-yard run with four minutes left in the first, pushing the lead to 27-7 at the end of the first period. Cantrell found Jett McCray for a 29-yard touchdown completion midway through the second, making the lead 34-7. Following a Rhett Wengert interception, Cantrell hooked up with Noah Baum from 26 yards out pushing the margin to 41-7. A Mustang fumble on their next possession was quickly turned into more Lobo points with another Cantrell touchdown pass, this one going to Jett McCray from 12 yards out and the lead extended to 48-7. Sam Crockett ended the first half scoring with a 25-yard field goal putting Snowflake up 51-7 at the break. Brennan Bryant tossed a 39-yard touchdown pass to Gunner Greer for the Lobo’s first score in the second half coming in the fourth quarter making the lead 58-7. Merrick Ulberg scored on a two-yard run with seven minutes left in the game. Then Crockett ended the scoring with a 42-yard field goal in the final minutes of the Snowflake 68-7 win. Cantrell finished the night completing five of eight passes for 200 yards, with four of those five completions going for touchdowns. Bryant completed three of four passes for 59 yards, with a score and Easton Butler completed his only pass for an 11-yard touchdown. Snowflake only had 103 yards rushing led by Brimhall with 56 yards on three attempts. Gage Papa carried four times picking up 22 yards and carried twice, gaining 17 yards. Six of Snowflake’s nine total receptions went for touchdowns. Baum led the receivers in yards with 78 on just two catches. Brimhall had one 76-yard reception. This week Snowflake will host 10th seeded Thatcher who upset No. 7 Pusch Ridge 35-26 in Tucson last Friday. Kick-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. If the Lobos can get past the Eagles, they will take on the winner of No. 3 Valley Christian and No. 6 River Valley in the semi-final round next Friday.
