It had been nearly 10 years since the Snowflake Lobos defeated Round Valley in the dome in Eagar, but after a sluggish first half on Friday night, they got the job done in the second half, picking up their seventh win of the season, 33-6.
The only first half points came with 6:51 left in the second on an eight-yard pass from Chase Walden to Doug Brimhall. The point after failed, leaving the Lobos with a 6-0 halftime lead.
Early in the third Snowflake picked things up. Just 20 seconds into the half, Walden broke loose on an 86-yard scoring run. Hunter Farr added the point after, moving the margin to 13-0. Just four minutes later Walden scored again, this time from three yards out. Then just two minutes later he added his third rushing touchdown of the period, again from three yards out. Farr’s point after kicks left the Lobos with a 26-0 lead heading into the fourth.
On the first play of the fourth quarter, Walden found Dallin Merrell on a 39-yard scoring pass for Snowflake’s final points of the night. Round Valley avoided the shutout by recovering a Snowflake fumble in the end zone with just under two minutes left in the game.
Walden had an efficient night throwing the ball, completing six of 10 passes for 83 yards with two scores. Merrell led the receiving corps with two catches for 38 yards. Farr had one grab for 27 yards. Jake Shumway and Brimhall each caught one for eight yards, and Braccin Tanner made one catch for two yards.
On the ground the Lobos ran well behind their big offensive line, piling up 226 yards. Walden led all rushers with 121 yards on 15 carries. Brit Smith ran just six times, but gained 70 yards. Tanner gained 26 yards on five rushes. Merrell ran three times for 13 yards.
Snowflake’s defense played well, forcing three Round Valley turnovers. Tyler Johnson, who has returned from his arm injury, recovered one fumble and Reggie Peterson recovered another. Shumway picked off one Elk pass attempt.
Snowflake is now 7-1 and heads into this week’s road game at Mingus ranked third in Division IV power points. The Marauders are ranked 11th and with a record of 5-3, they will most likely be in the state playoffs. Mingus has won two straight and could pose a slight problem for the Lobos if they get caught looking ahead to their final game at Safford next week. Snowflake has now won five straight and is still a favorite to be playing in late November.
