Snowflake broke a two-game skid with a hard fought 13-10 defensive win over a solid Bulldog team visiting from Safford last Friday night. Like the Lobos, Safford came into this game on the heels of a two-game slide, and all attending knew one of these two very good teams would head to the midpoint of the season with a losing record.
Safford put up 10 first period points to lead 10-7 at the end of the quarter. Snowflake took the lead with the only score of the final three periods, getting a second period touchdown to lead 13-10 at the half. That score was the final score of the night as both teams traded defensive stops throughout the entire second half.
Safford’s defense shut down Snowflake’s rushing attack, limiting the Lobos to a total of negative seven yards in the game. David Brimhall did gain 24 yards on seven runs and Cody Fox had 12 yards on four carries. Jace Merrell picked up nine yards on four attempts. Quarterback Traegon Standerfer was pressured most of the night, finishing with a minus 40 yards on 13 scrambles. Jake Christensen lost seven yards on his only carry.
Standerfer may have struggled on the ground, but he more than made up for it through the air. He completed 81 percent of his passes, going 13 for 16 for 288 yards and the only two Snowflake scores of the night, including a 77-yard completion for a score to Taden Flake. The other scoring strike was a 71-yard catch and run by Tyler Brimhall.
Flake finished the night with three catches for a total of 91 yards with the one touchdown. David Brimhall had two grabs totaling 55 yards. Garrett Wood had three receptions for 51 yards. Merrell had two for 11 yards, and Cody Fox had two for nine yards.
Snowflake now 3-2 on the season will have a bye this week. The Lobos resume play on Friday, Sept. 29, when they open East Region play at Winslow facing a Bulldog team which may well remain unbeaten by that date.
