The Roadrunners and new head Coach Shawn Holley got the season started on a positive note last Thursday night when they soundly defeated visiting Ganado 46-0. Holbrook freshman Simeon Shaw preserved the shut out, breaking up an apparent Hornet touchdown on the final play of the game.
Holbrook’s defense was stellar for most of the night, and their offense was consistent throughout the contest. The Roadrunners forced a Hornet fumble on Ganado’s first play from scrimmage. Then Marcus Oberriter scored the season’s first points on an 11-yard run. His 2-point conversion pass to Izzy Ramos put the Birds on top 8-0 midway through the opening quarter.
Oberriter found Tristen Cowboy on a 17-yard catch and run with just six seconds left in the period, pushing the lead to 16-0 following Daniel Montijo’s point after conversion run.
Late in the second quarter, Oberriter found Daniel Montijo on a short three-yard pass for a score. That play was set up by a powerful 30-yard run up the middle by Darnell Nez.
Oberriter again found Ramos on a long pass down the sideline late in the half setting up a three-yard burst by Nez, putting Holbrook on top 28-0 at the half.
Holbrook’s offense picked up in the third with a 14-yard touchdown run by Montijo. Kyle Smith’s point after catch made the score 34-0 with the Birds in full control.
Oberriter threw the ball well on the night and he also caught the ball well, at least on one play when he intercepted the Ganado quarterback in the flat and returned the ball 25 yards for an easy pick six pushing the lead to 40-0.
With most of the starters on the bench, Holbrook scored midway through the fourth quarter when Tharon James tossed a perfectly thrown ball to Shaw in the endzone from 19 yards out putting the final touches on a 46-0 opening night win.
Oberriter completed nine of 14 passes for 142 yards, with a pair of touchdowns and one interception. James was 1 for 3 for 19 yards with one score.
Izzy Ramos led the receiving corps with 67 yards on two grabs. Tristian Cowboy had two catches for 25 yards with a score. Simeon Shaw had one 19-yard touchdown reception. Chase Sahmie caught two for 20 yards. Nez had one for 14, Smith one for 10, and Daniel Montijo had one three-yard touchdown catch.
On the ground, the Birds were led by Nez with 77 yards on 12 runs. Freshman Mathias Montijo gained 69 yards on 10 carries. Oberriter rushed five times gaining 50 yards with a score. Mathias Montijo had four rushes for 24 yards with a score. Izack Wilson ran twice picking up five yards.
Smith led the Holbrook defense with seven tackles. Noah Padilla had six and Mauricio Baca was credited with five tackles as was Ramos. Ramos also had three quarterback sacks. Baca and Tristian Cowboy each had one sack.
Even though it is early in the season, the traditional battle of I-40 is already here. This week Holbrook travels to Winslow to take on the program they haven’t beaten in 20 years. Will this be the year the Birds finally get the best of the Bulldogs? Holbrook is led by four senior skill players and the Bulldogs struggled a bit with Chinle last week before winning the game 20-16. Holbrook will be showing up with a lot of confidence after their week one win, however, as Winslow has proven for many years, they are tough at home, especially when Holbrook comes to town.
Last year the Bulldogs got off to a big lead before Holbrook made the game look a lot closer than it was with a bunch of points late. This week will it be Holbrook that starts quickly and puts some pressure on Winslow? Time will tell.
These two teams no longer play in the same conference with Winslow remaining in 3A and Holbrook competing at the 2A level, but that won’t make this rivalry any less interesting on Friday night.
