By Greg Perkins Snowflake and Blue Ridge played a classic on Friday night. Playing in Lakeside, the Lobos mounted a stunning double-digit comeback in the fourth quarter to upend the Yellowjackets 22-21. Snowflake has now won all three of their games by a combined seven total points. Blue Ridge scored on their first possession with a six-yard rush by PJ London. The point after kick gave the Jackets a 7-0 lead, which they took into the second quarter. The Jackets threatened on their second possession as well but Snowflake’s defense turned them over on downs inside the Lobo 20-yard line late in the first frame. Snowflake got on the board near the five-minute mark of the second period when Sam Crockett made good on a 40-yard field goal making the score 7-3. With less than two minutes left in the half, Terren Green put the Lobos on top with a 17-yard scoring run. Crockett’s point after kick gave Snowflake a 10-7 half time lead. Blue Ridge took the second half kick-off and moved down the field in less than three minutes taking the lead on a Damon Mitchell two-yard plunge. London’s point after kick gave the Jackets a 14-10 advantage. Snowflake tried to answer the Blue Ridge drive but the Lobos came up short, eventually stalling out with a missed field goal giving the Jackets the ball back on their own 20-yard line. After trading possessions and turn-overs, the Jackets held their four-point lead going into the final period. Early in the fourth, Mitchell pushed the Blue Ridge lead to double digits with a 12-yard rushing touchdown. London’s kick was good putting the Lobos in a 21-10 hole with ten minutes left in the game. Snowflake quickly cut into that lead when Caden Cantrell’s short pass to Green resulted in a 70-yard touchdown catch and run. Snowflake went for two but failed, leaving them trailing by five points at 21-16. The Lobo defense stepped up and got the ball back for their offense. Cantrell then scored the go ahead and game winning points on a four yard run with just under three minutes left in the game giving Snowflake the 22-21 final outcome in a battle of two very good teams. Cantrell completed 9 of his 18 aerials for 222 yards with one score. Mayson McKinlay caught five of those passes for 77 yards. Green had two grabs for 86 yards. Caleb Lyman had one 26-yard catch, and Nick McVicker had one 33-yard grab. Green was the leading Snowflake rusher with 48 yards on 8 rushes. Cantrell carried 19 times for 46 yards, and McKinlay picked up 30 yards on 9 attempts. Snowflake now 3-0 will host 1-2 Show Low on Friday night.
