Snowflake cruised past Apache Junction on Friday night, pushing their 4A leading record to 9-0 with a 42-0 romp over the Prospectors. The Lobos entered the game ranked in the top spot of the 4A power rankings and should remain there this week. Arcadia and Mica Mountain are also both unbeaten, but due to the strength of the schedule, they sit in the fourth and fifth positions. Yuma Catholic and AZ College Prep are No. 2 and No. 3 respectively, each with 8-1 records.
Snowflake’s final regular season game will be on Friday when they travel to face Sierra Linda. The Bulldogs are just 3-6 on the season and entered last week ranked 45th out of the 53 teams in 4A. Barring a big stumble, Snowflake will enter next week’s 4A state playoffs as the top seed.
In Friday’s win, the Lobos had an efficient passing game with Jacob LaDuke completing six of eight passes for 86 yards, with two touchdowns and Judd Flake connected on two of three for 53 yards, with one touchdown. Neither quarterback threw an interception.
Merrick Ulberg led six receivers with three grabs for 40 yards and a score. Christian Smith had one 36-yard catch for a score. Skip Bawden also had a 36-yard reception. Kanton Turley had an 11-yard catch, Graham Silverhorn had a 10-yard grab and Ezra Baum had a short six-yard touchdown catch.
Playing with a short field for most of the night, Snowflake’s rushing attack had just 126 total yards with touchdown runs by Brenner Green and LaDuke. Turley picked up 56 yards on six runs. Karter Raban carried 10 times for 45 yards, LaDuke had three runs for 17 yards and Green carried twice for eight yards. Aaden Coor and Connor Reed each picked off a Prospector pass attempt and Andrew Bentley recovered one fumble.
Sam Brown was good on all five of his extra-point kicks, and Jaxon Merrill also made his only PAT.
As he has done for much of the season, Coor led a strong defensive unit with 11 tackles. Jett Smith had eight, Hayydn Nichols added seven, and Trip Whiting finished with six takedowns. Brent White had one quarterback sack.
