Lobos Breeze By Alchesay On Way To State Playoffs

By Greg Perkins
   Snowflake’s Lobos are heading to the state playoffs with momentum after easily winning their past two ball games. Despite resting some usual starters last Friday night, the Lobos jumped out early on visiting Alchesay and scored all 54 of their points in the first half of a 54-0 shutout to end the regular season.
   Ammon McKinlay opened the scoring just over a minute into the game on an eight-yard run. Trevor Reddick, filling in for a resting Shawn Walker, took over from there, throwing three first period touchdown passes. The first went to Robbie Martindale from 13 yards out with 6:46 left in the period. Just two minutes later Reddick found Brad Hutson for a 53-yard hook up, and then he connected with Martindale again for a 53-yard scoring strike to give the Lobos a 27-0 lead heading to the second period.
   In the second, Reddick tossed his fourth touchdown pass of the night when he found McKinlay from six yards out. Reddick used his legs to score on a 20-yard run with 6:41 left in the half. With 2:36 left in the half Jordan Hunt and backup quarterback Brit Smith hooked up on a 79-yard catch and run, and Martindale closed out the scoring and the half when he intercepted a Falcon pass and returned it 40 yards for a defensive score. Michael Peterson kicked the final extra point of the half.
   “We played well and got the job done. Shawn was a bit banged up, but could have played if we needed him. We felt it was better to give him and some other players an extra week off to rest up for the playoffs. Now we face Chino Valley, which we know is big and physical, and we are going to prepare for them just like we would anyone else. We have to go to their place, so we will need to be on top of our game to advance in the playoffs,” said Coach Adam Larsen.
   Reddick completed four of seven passes for 125 yards with four touchdowns. Smith made good on six of seven attempts for 145 yards with one score and one interception.
   Hunt made one catch good for 79 yards. Martindale had two grabs for 66 yards. Hutson made one for 58, Jake Shumway had one for 24, Tyler Johnson made one for 19 and Derrick Flake had one for 16 yards.
   Reddick gained 40 yards on two runs, Smith gained 43 on a pair of runs and McKinlay rushed six times for 52 yards.
   On defense, the Lobos were led by Colton Reidhead with nine tackles. Nick Alcantar had eight, Brandt Perkins had seven with one sack, Hutson had six with a sack and Jon Quimby made four stops with one sack. Martindale and Hunt each made an interception.
Alchesay       0   0 0   0     0
Snowflake 27 27 0   0   54
   According to the power points, the Lobos are the ninth ranked team and will open the playoffs on the road on Saturday, Nov. 7, when they travel to face eighth seeded Chino Valley. Snowflake is considered by many to be one of the top three or four teams in the state, but will have to prove it on the road. The Lobos finished the regular season with an overall record of 8-2 with losses to only Blue Ridge and Round Valley. Chino Valley is 5-4 and comes into the game on a hot streak, having won four in a row and five of their last six. The Cougars beat Holbrook 35-0 last week, and finished in third place in the West Region behind Estrella Foothills and Wickenburg.
   If the Lobos win this game, they will more than likely face top seeded Fountain Hills next week.