Holbrook’s trip to Window Rock on Friday night resulted in a much more competitive game for both the Roadrunners and the Scouts. The two teams had combined to give up 102 points in losses last week.
Friday night’s game was a defensive battle through the first 12 minutes with neither team able to break into the end zone. The first score of the game didn’t arrive until the 5:44 mark of the second period when Nataah Chief scored for the Scouts on a three-yard run. The point after kick was blocked by the Roadrunners. Minutes later Window Rock’s Cobren Nez scored on a five-yard run, pushing the Scout lead to 12-0 with 3:29 left in the half. Neither team managed to score in the final minutes leaving Holbrook on the trailing end of the two scores by Window Rock.
Holbrook got on the board with five minutes left in the third. Back up sophomore quarterback Anthony Nelson came into the game and threw a great 19-yard fade pattern to Jeffrey Jones in the endzone giving the Roadrunners their first score of the game, as well as their first touchdown since week one of the season. The point after conversion failed leaving Holbrook down 12-6.
With 6:57 left in the game Window Rock extended their lead to 20-6 on a two-yard run by Joey Begay. The two-point conversion run left Holbrook down by 14 points.
Window Rock tried to catch Holbrook napping with an onside kickoff attempt, which went out of bounds giving the Roadrunners the ball on their own 40-yard line. One play later Jones found himself in the end zone. Quarterback Nelson got good protection from his offensive line and he launched a 30-yard pass, which was caught by Jones who then outran everyone on the field for the final 30 yards making the score 20-12. The two-point conversion failed.
Holbrook had a couple of scoring chances late in the game, but they came up just short in the 20-12 loss.
The win by Window Rock marked the first time in 10 years they have beaten Holbrook in football.
With the loss Holbrook dropped their season mark to 1-3 while the Scouts improved to 3-2.
Holbrook will host Payson on Friday night for the 2018 homecoming game. The Longhorns struggled to beat Chinle 16-0 last week, but they will come in with an overall 3-2 record.
