Despite playing without their top two offensive weapons for most of the night, the Snowflake Lobos had little problem staying unbeaten last Friday with a 33-8 win at Roadrunner Stadium in Holbrook. The decision to rest starting quarterback Trey Schneider and their top runner, Zach Solomon, both of whom were a little banged up coming into the game, for most of the night didn’t have any effect on the Lobo defense, which held Holbrook to only 137 yards of total offense and picked off the Roadrunner quarterback six times.
Holbrook’s Ryan Short was beaten up early in the game and even though he showed his toughness by staying in for the whole game, it was clear the Lobos’ pressure took its toll on the quarterback. Top ranked Snowflake simply had too much size and too much speed for the overmatched Roadrunners.
The Lobos scored on their opening possession, with Teagan Peterson capping a five-play, 77-yard drive with a 42-yard run. His point after boot made it 7-0 just two minutes into the game. With 7:38 left in the first, Zach Solomon scored on a 46-yard run, completing a 78-yard drive in only three plays to make the score 14-0.
With 5:29 left in the second quarter, Peterson scored his second touchdown of the night on a five-yard run which capped a six-play, 28-yard drive, making the margin 20-0. Snowflake picked off a Holbrook pass inside its own five yard line late in the half, then gave up two points when Frankie Ulibarri tackled the Lobo runner in the end zone on a nice defensive play, giving the Roadrunners two points on the safety. Holbrook returned the ensuing free kick to Snowflake’s 30 yard line and appeared to have momentum going into the half, but Short was intercepted at Snowflake’s 19 yard line to end the half with the Lobos on top 20-2.
The Snowflake squad began the second half much like it ended the first with an interception of Holbrook. This time Steven Brimhall returned the pick 60 yards for the score with 10:41 left in the third period. The Roadrunners forced and recovered a Snowflake fumble midway through the fourth period, then capitalized with a Cade Maestas’ one-yard plunge, making the score 26-8.
Following Holbrook’s score the Lobos quickly moved down the field and scored on an 18-yard run by Tanner Willis for the final points of the game, with Snowflake on top 33-8.
For Holbrook, Short completed 11 of 28 pass attempts for 84 yards, but threw six interceptions. Miah Perry had three receptions for 29 yards. Maestas and Ulibarri each had 20 yards on two catches. Jeffrey Jones had one 13-yard reception and Zakhari Waits had two catches for two total yards.
The Roadrunners’ rushing attack was grounded for most of the night. They finished with just 53 yards on 24 attempts. Maestas picked up 22 of those yards on nine rushes with one touchdown. Waits had 21 yards on 10 rushes. Ulibarri carried twice, picking up seven yards. Short carried twice, picking up five yards.
Snowflake amassed 284 yards on the ground, but had none through the air as quarterback Traegon Standerfer missed on his seven attempts. The Lobos gained 105 yards on interception returns, including the 60-yard return for a touchdown by Brimhall.
Peterson led the rushing attack with 81 yards on nine rushes with two scores. Solomon carried only three times in limited action but still gained 64 yards with one touchdown. Bradley Smith rushed six times for 57 yards. Trenton Hatch carried five times, picking up 53 yards. Tanner Willis gained 35 yards on five rushes. Cody Fox had three rushes for 16 yards and Jace Merrell carried three times, gaining nine yards.
Peterson had three interceptions, while Hatch, Brimhall, and Luke Patterson each had one.
For Holbrook, Oscar Hernandez and Tyrese James both had fumble recoveries. The Roadrunner defense was led by Hernandez with 14 tackles. Gage Coronado finished with 10 and Maestas had nine.
This week is rivalry week for both schools.
Top ranked Snowflake will host No. 4 Show Low in the battle of the two best teams in the area. Both units are 8-0 on the season, so something has to give. This could be the first of two meetings if they both advance as expected in the 3A state playoffs.
Holbrook will travel to Winslow to face the Bulldogs, who are coming off a pounding they received at Payson last week. Winslow will most likely drop out of the top 10 in the rankings and will need a win over Holbrook this week to possibly remain inside the top 16 with Show Low looming in their final game. The Roadrunners are just 2-5 and will not make the playoffs, but could play the spoiler role for the 5-3 Bulldogs.
