Close contests charted again as unbeatens prepare for showdown

There were some exciting games in White Mountain football this past weekend and some games that were not. The tightest game featured Round Valley traveling to Snowflake. The Lobos held on to win in overtime 14 – 7. Chase Walden did everything but pop the corn in this contest as he ran for one touchdown and passed to Doug Brimhall from 6 yards out for the game winner.

Walden is also the Lobos’ punter. Snowflake improved their record to 6 -2 and will host Mingus, Cottonwood. Round Valley, who fell to 3-5 on the year, hosts Thatcher.

The Apache Bowl lived up to its billing as San Carlos held on to top Alchesay 27 – 26 in San Carlos. The Falcons fall to 0-8 on the year and travel to St. Johns Friday night.

Speaking of St. Johns, the Redskins trampled Queen Creek Canyon State 58-14 to bring their record to 5-3.

The other close contest in the White Mountain “Old 3-A East” football had Holbrook falling to Walden Grove of Sahuarita 14 – 12. The Roadrunners fall to 2-6 with the loss as they travel to Chinle this Friday.

In the blowout category there were several contests. The Winslow Bulldogs bit the Coconino Panthers of Flagstaff 42-12 as Kelly Wood and James Martinez both notched two TD’s. The Bulldogs, now 5-3 will host Monument Valley.

Mogollon ended their regular season the way they started with a stampede. The Mustangs took care of business over Rock Point 62-16. Led by Dallin Despain with 4 rushing TD’s and followed by Smiley Beecroft with 2 more, Mogollon awaits their first round pairing in AIA 8 man playoffs in hopes of winning the state championship.

Both Blue Ridge and Show Low rolled their Friday night opponents in preparation for the big show down this Friday in Lakeside. The Cougars slashed Safford 65-21 as Colby Maxwell passed for three TD’s including two to Cody Tenney. The Cougars kept their perfect record intact as they are now 8-0. The Blue Ridge Yellow Jackets notched another shutout as they routed Apache Junction 55-0 in the Valley. The Jackets were led by Quarterback Skyler Hill who ran for 2 TD’s and passed for 2 more. One of Hill’s passes for 6 was to Chans Cox. Cox also added a rushing TD and Nolan Cook ran for 2 more.

Blue Ridge improves to 9-0 on the year as they have won 69 straight. In that string the Yellow Jackets topped Show Low for last year’s state championship at the Walkup Sky Dome in Flagstaff. One of Arizona’s biggest rivalries looms large on Friday night’s horizon. School officials are expecting a crowd of over 10,000 for the contest.

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