Holbrook’s season-opening game at Page on Friday night was exciting, however, the final outcome wasn’t what Roadrunner fans were hoping for, with the Birds coming out on the wrong end of a 29-28 final outcome. For a game with a total of 57 points scored, all that scoring came in the first two quarters of action.
First-year coach Paul Agramont’s team opened the scoring on a 37-yard pass from sophomore quarterback Darren Justman to classmate Daniel John, capping a 60-yard, eight-play scoring drive. Matthias Montijo ran in the two-point conversion, putting Holbrook up 8-0 on their first offensive possession.
Holbrook’s defense forced and recovered a Sand Devil fumble then turned that into points, with a Montijo 56-yard run extending Holbrook’s lead to 14-0 with the failed conversion attempt.
Page got on the board in one play with a 55-yard touchdown pass down the right sideline. Their successful conversion trimmed Holbrook’s lead to 14-8.
Holbrook quickly countered that score when senior Darnell Nez returned the ensuing kickoff 87 yards, pushing Holbrook’s lead to 20-8 still in the first period.
Page answered right back with a five-yard touchdown pass, which capped a nine-yard, 66-yard scoring drive. That score came on the heels of a lengthy delay caused by a small ruckus on the field between the two teams. Once the officials had sorted everything out both teams had multiple players ejected for the remainder of the game. The hour-long first quarter eventually came to an end with Holbrook holding a 20-15 lead.
Montijo finished off a 10-play, 69-yard scoring drive with an eight-yard run. His two-point conversion run extended the Roadrunner lead back to 28-15 early in the second period.
After both teams had traded three-and-out punts Page closed the gap with a 62-yard pass play Their two-point conversion made the score 28-23, with Holbrook still up with five minutes left in the half. Holbrook struggled with penalties and punted on their next drive. The Sand Devils scored again on another long pass play, this one covering 54 yards putting the home team on top 29-28 at the end of the first half.
While the first half was full of offensive fireworks, the second half belonged to both defenses. Neither team was able to reach the endzone throughout the second half. Holbrook’s final possession came close with the Birds getting inside Page’s 20-yard line, but they failed on a short-yardage fourth down conversion leaving Page with the ball and the one-point victory.
Justman ended the game completing 10 of 18 passes for 120 yards, with one touchdown. Montijo carried 22 times, picking up 120 yards with two scores. Nez carried once gaining one yard.
John was Holbrook’s leading receiver, with 80 total yards on three receptions and a touchdown. Montijo caught five for 40 yards and Christian Lerma had one 16-yard catch. Chance Sahmie had one grab for nine yards, and Mason Archunde had a one-yard catch.
Holbrook’s defense was led by Larin Nez with 10 tackles. Noah Padilla finished with nine and Calvin Hoskie had eight tackles.
This week Holbrook will host Winslow on Saturday evening at 6 p.m. The Bulldogs come into this game with a 1-1 record. They won their opener in week one with a 42-0 shutout over Window Rock. This past week they were soundly beaten by Payson 34-6. Holbrook won the battle of I-40 last year 32-6. Playing the game at Roadrunner Stadium will help the Birds have a chance to make it two in a row over the Bulldogs on Saturday night.
