Roadrunner Stadium Is The Place To Be Tonight

By Greg Perkins
   The regular football season is nearly two-thirds of the way done, and tonight’s (Oct. 2) Homecoming game in Holbrook between the Roadrunners and Winslow will certainly decide the champion of the North region.
   Winslow is 4-1 on the season with the Bulldogs’ only loss to Snowflake. Holbrook comes into the game with a 3-2 mark, having fallen to Snowflake and Blue Ridge. Against their only common opponent so far this season, Holbrook played Snowflake tougher, but the Lobos have been a different team since. Both teams are unbeaten in region play and expect both to remain that way the rest of the conference schedule. A win tonight will almost certainly guarantee a first round home game in the playoffs. Even the loser of this contest has an outside chance of hosting a first round game, with the power points structure the way it is this season. Both teams will rack up power points with region wins the rest of the way.
   Winslow has pretty much owned Holbrook in recent years. Last year’s game played in Winslow went the way of the Bulldogs 57-22. Two years ago when Winslow last visited Roadrunner Stadium, the Bulldogs left with a 31-0 shutout in their pocket. This year Holbrook may have enough speed to match the Bulldogs at the skill positions. Both teams have quarterbacks capable of making big plays, and both have good running backs. Two of the marquee players on the night will be receivers Tyler Stingley of Holbrook and Tevin Renfro from Winslow. Whichever of these two has the bigger night may help determine the outcome. This game could come down to the line of scrimmage, where the Bulldogs probably hold a slight advantage in size and speed. One thing for certain is that a huge crowd is expected for this I-40 rivalry, so fans may want to get to Roadrunner Stadium early.
   Monument Valley picked up its first win of the season last week with a 43-0 victory over Ganado. Tonight the Mustangs may win their second straight when they host a winless Tuba City team. The Warriors are eagerly awaiting basketball season, until then Friday nights will just get longer and longer. Monument Valley should finish in either third or fourth place in the region, but if the Mustangs advance to the playoffs, expect an early exit.
   Chinle, which holds a 1-4 record, hosts winless Ganado, which is 0-4. Somebody has to win this game and since it is being played on their home field, the Wildcats should keep the Hornets out of the win column.
   Window Rock proved last week that despite a 3-2 record, the Scouts really aren’t that strong of a team. They will be reminded of that when they go into the dome at Eagar to face an Elks team that is not in a good mood, having been beaten soundly by Show Low last week. If the Scouts score, it may seem like a win. Look for Round Valley to roll.
   Joseph City continues its journey toward a final showdown with Mogollon in three weeks, but first the Wildcats have to deal with Rock Point tonight. Though they are traveling to face the Cougars, this game will be little more than a small speed bump for a Wildcat team that has not been tested at all through their five wins thus far.