VETERAN NEW MEXICO TEAM WINS 21-14 IN SNOWFLAKE

The Snowflake Lobos are not used to losing very many games – even in a rebuilding year – so when The Pack went down 21-14 to Kirtland Central, who drove over from New Mexico last Friday, the boys needed some cheering up from Acting Head Coach Art Hargrove. “It’s not a terrible thing to get a loss,” Hargrove told the gathered Lobos after the game. “No one should hang their heads. This was a tough one, tougher than most. We’ve got a blue-collar work ethic. We’ve got things to work on and we will improve a little bit every week. It’s not the end of the world.” In the first two games of the season, the Lobos had the luck of playing two teams from the Navajo Reservation – Tuba City and Chinle – and outscored the two 104-12. Kirtland was another story. They were a senior-laden team whereas Snowflake has a lot more juniors. “We had our shots at winning the game. We worked hard. There is no reason why we can’t charge ahead. Physically, we played well. We just have to think a little bit more,” Hargrove said. The Lobos struck first with just under eight minutes left in the first period. The Broncos started off the game with a trick onside kick, which Brydon Hatch snared at the 49 yard line. Traegon Standerfer, Jace Merrell, Cody Fox and Luke Patterson shared running duties and Taden Flake caught an eight yard pass from Standerfer. The Lobos were also assisted by three Bronco penalties. Merrell ran the ball eight yards up the middle for the score and Jake Christensen ran over a two-point conversion for a Lobo 8-0 lead. However, with just over a minute left in the first quarter, the Broncos struck back as Jordan Heslop caught a 22-yard pass from Bryson Dowdy and Jacob Franco ran it over from the two. A Tyler Jenks kick brought it to one point. In the second quarter, the Lobos re-gained the lead. Merrell caught a 14-yard pass from Standerfer, and Patterson snared a 15-yard pass. It was fourth down with eight yards to go for a first when Standerfer found Fox and hit him with a 33-yard strike for the touchdown. The point after was no good and Snowflake had a 14-7 lead. With the half drawing to a close, Bryson Dowdy hit Brock Beckstead with a 9-yard pass and then a 31-yard strike down the left side for the score. It was a 14-14 tie at halftime. In the third period, Snowflake had its chances to regain the lead. Fox ran for 22 yards and also caught a 22-yard pass from Standerfer after the quarterback found himself in trouble. Taden Flake caught two 9-yard passes. However, Standerfer’s pass was intercepted by Heslop at the goal line and Heslop ran the interception back 23 yards. Later, Kirtland was on the ropes. An incomplete pass and two Franco runs left Kirtland short of a first down by inches on the 50-yard line. But then on fourth down, Terrin Willie caught a long heave by Bryson Dowdy and ran it in for the score. Tyler Jenks kicked the extra point and Kirtland had a 21-14 lead, which it would never relinquish. The last stanza saw a lot of back and forth. Standerfer had another pass intercepted, but Jenks attempted field goal was no good. The Lobos had one last shot at tying or winning the game. On fourth down Patterson hauled in a 15-yard pass, but then Standerfer threw an interception with 1:09 left in the game and after a couple of knees, the game was over. Snowflake has a tough game next Friday with a game at Thatcher. It is not known yet whether Head Coach Kay Solomon will be back after having surgery three weeks ago.

VETERAN NEW MEXICO TEAM WINS 21-14 IN SNOWFLAKE

Photo Credit: Mike Leiby

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