The Roadrunners were expected to go into Pinon on Friday night and walk away with an easy win; the final result was anything but. Holbrook needed a long scramble by Darren Justman in the waning moments of the game to secure a come-from-behind 26-24 win to keep their playoff hopes alive.
Pinon came to play. Holbrook fumbled on their first possession and the Eagles capitalized in four plays, taking an 8-0 lead. Holbrook had a solid drive going on their next possession, but Justman threw an interception in the end zone ending the threat.
Pinon returned the favor a couple plays later when Justman intercepted his counterpart, setting Holbrook up on the Eagle 25-yard line. Four plays later Justman found William Kinds on a three-yard connection, making the score 8-6.
Justman picked off a second Pinon aerial, setting up his second touchdown pass of the night, this one from 15 yards out to Daniel John, extending Holbrook’s lead to 14-8. The teams traded possessions and turnovers the rest of the second quarter, leaving Holbrook with a 14-8 halftime lead.
Pinon took the lead 16-14 on a short run midway through the third. In the fourth, a five-yard run by Manny Rico gave Holbrook the lead back at 20-16.
Pinon took advantage of another Holbrook turnover and took the lead 24-20 late in the fourth quarter. Both teams turned the other over on downs before Holbrook’s final drive of the night.
The Birds started at the 47-yard line and moved into position for the go-ahead score. That score came on a third and long scramble by Justman. His dive into the endzone gave Holbrook the win 26-24.
Pinon’s final heave of the game was picked by Holbrook leaving the Birds with a hard-fought come-from-behind 2-point victory.
Justman completed 12 of 18 passes for 130 yards, with two touchdowns and two interceptions. Simeon Shaw led the team in catches with 5 and yards with 71. Daniel John had 3 for 48 yards and a score. William Kinds caught two for ten yards with a score. Rico had two catches for one total yard.
On the ground, Holbrook racked up 150 yards. Rico gained 65 on 10 totes with a score. Justman carried 7 times, gaining 64 yards with the big score at the end of the game. Shaw had one catch for 21 yards.
Rico led Holbrook’s defense with 15 tackles. Baler Reidhead helped with 12. Holbrook turned Pinon over five times including three interceptions and two fumbles.
Friday’s win sets up the region title game on homecoming night with Tuba City. The winner of Friday’s game will be the Little Colorado Region winner and will advance to the playoffs. The loser will have their season come to an end, as neither team will finish the regular season ranked inside the top 16 in the final rankings.
Holbrook is now 6-3 on the season. Tuba City is 7-2. Like the Roadrunners they have not allowed a single point to anyone in the region except Pinon, who they beat by 6 points: 26-20, at the end of September. Both teams have held the rest of the region’s opponents scoreless.
Holbrook entered Friday’s game ranked 30th. Tuba City was ranked 21st before their 59-0 win over Greyhills. It is homecoming in Holbrook. The Roadrunners will be favored, but they will need to take better care of the ball against a Warriors team that can put points on the board.
