By Greg Perkins The Lobos easily advanced to the 3A State Quarterfinal round on Friday night with a 63-21 home field romp over the No. 15th seeded Dysart Demons. Second seeded Snowflake found the endzone four times in the first period setting the tone for the rest of the game. Dysart actually put the first points on the board with a 19-yard touchdown pass and led 7-0 at the end of their first offensive drive, just three minutes into the game. The rest of the first quarter belonged entirely to the Lobos. Camden Brimhall quickly tied the game with a 65-yard rushing score. Sam Crockett’s point after knotted the game at 7-7. Following a defensive stop, Brimhall found the endzone again, this time from 14 yards out making the score 14-7 with Crockett’s boot. Caden Cantrell found Mayson McKinlay for a 52-yard catch and run pushing the lead to 21-7, with five minutes left in the first. The next Lobo possession ended with a 12-yard touchdown pass from Cantrell to McKinlay, pushing the margin to 28-7 with two minutes left in the opening frame. Early in the second Cantrell lofted a nice pass to Noah Baum from 18 yards out pushing the lead to 35-7. Following a long scoring drive by Dysart making the score 35-14 midway through the second period, the Lobos quickly answered with a short Brimhall rushing touchdown. Ryson Stuart’s interception set up the Lobos final score of the first half which was another connection between Cantrell and Baum, this one from 29 yards out pushing the lead to 49-14 at the half. Backup Lobo quarterback Easton Butler hooked up with Tyler Clare for the Lobos first score of the second half. Crockett’s point after kick made the score 56-14 midway through the third period. Bradden Lewis got into the scoring column with a 17-yard run. Crockett kicked his ninth consecutive successful point after for the Lobos final points of the night. Cantrell completed all eight of his pass attempts for 164 yards with four touchdowns and no picks. Butler completed four of his six passes for 35 yards, with one touchdown. McKinlay had three catches for 69 yards with a pair of scores. Baum also made three catches, good for 61 yards, with two touchdowns. Clare had two receptions for 18 yards with a score. Davyn McCray, Lance Christensen, Lewis, and Nick McVicker each had one reception. Snowflake amassed 367 total yards on the ground. Camden Brimhall did the bulk of the work with nine runs totaling 154 yards, with three scores. Lewis rushed 10 times for 59 yards, with one touchdown. JJ Lerma had nine carries for 89 yards. Lance Christensen, 4 for 15; Garret Flake, 1 for 21; Cantrell, 2 for 14; and McKinlay rushed twice for a total of 15 yards. Ryson Stuart, Caleb Lyman, and Cooper Rapier each had interceptions. With the win the Lobos moved their overall record to 7-1, and more importantly they have advanced in the bracket to face No. 7 Phoenix Christian on Friday night. With a win they would face the winner of the No. 6 Round Valley, No. 3 ALA Gilbert North winner in the semi-final round on Dec. 5. Top ranked Yuma Catholic will face No. 8 Thatcher and No 4 Pusch Ridge will take on No. 5 Wickenburg who upset Blue Ridge last week in the other quarterfinal match ups. As the higher seed Snowflake will get to host Phoenix Christian on Friday night. Hopefully the cooler weather will have an impact on the Cougars. They are 5-3 on the season with losses to three good teams including a loss to top ranked Yuma Catholic at the beginning of their season. Last week they cruised past River Valley in the first round of the playoffs by a final of 56-27. Playing this game in Snowflake will be a huge advantage for the Lobos, who have the better team anyway. However, they will need to be at full strength. Most of their starters were rested in the second half of this week’s game. That rest will come in handy on Friday.
