Cougars Nip Bulldogs 35-28 In State Playoffs

By Sam Conner
   The Show Low Cougars built a commanding lead and managed to hold off the Winslow Bulldogs’ comeback effort to win an Arizona State 3A Conference Football Playoff game played at Campo Verde High School in Gilbert last Saturday. The loss ended Winslow’s season with a 10-2 record. Show Low will take an 8-3 record into the semi-finals against Fountain Hills, which beat Snowflake 23-20 to move on in the playoffs.
   The Cougars enjoyed a productive first half in which they scored 28 points and built a 28-14 halftime advantage that they pushed to 35-14 early in the third quarter. Winslow came alive in the second half, as the Bulldogs got within a touchdown of the lead and had a chance to tie the game late. The Cougars dominated the first half statistics, but the Bulldogs were in control of that aspect of the game in the second half.
   Much heralded Show Low quarterback Rathen Ricedorff lived up to his billing in the first half. He was a force both as a passer and a runner, and also shone as a defensive back. Winslow quarterback Kraig Shirley was almost a mirror image, as his running, passing and defense were all outstanding.
   After a turnover each way and a couple of unsuccessful drives, both teams scored in the closing moments of the first quarter. Show Low took a 7-0 lead on a four-yard run by Cody Bell and a conversion by Trevar MacArthur.
   Winslow came right back in the last seconds of the period to tie the game at 7-7 on a one-yard run by Shirley and the conversion by Aaron Martin.
   Show Low went back on top on a five-yard run by MacArthur and his conversion with 11 minutes left in the half. Ricedorff passed 15 yards for another touchdown and the conversion increased the lead to 21-7.
   Shirley scored his second touchdown of the game on a nine-yard run and Marin’s conversion cut the lead to 21-14.
   The final score of the first half came on one of the most unusual plays imaginable. Ricedorff had his pass batted into the air, he then caught it and ran into the end zone for a scoring pass to himself. The conversion gave the Cougars a 28-14 lead.
   The Cougars drove 70 yards to score on a seven-yard Ricedorff pass to Jacob Daniel after receiving the second half kickoff. The conversion increased their lead to a commanding 35-14 early in the third quarter.
   Winslow cut into the margin early in the final period on a 10-yard run by Chayse Russell. The conversion cut the lead to two touchdowns at 35-21.
   One of the most important drives of Winslow’s season came as the time left to play was inside the 10-minute mark. The Bulldogs gambled on a fourth and long situation and made the important first down. That kept the game in play as the Bulldogs drove deeply into Cougar territory, where they had to connect on a fourth and 12 play to keep the drive alive. Russell scored from the one-yard line on a fourth down and one play to cut the lead to 35-28 after the conversion with five minutes left to play.
   Winslow got the ball back again near midfield with more than three and a half minutes left in the game. The Bulldogs drove until the drive was hurt by a penalty and ended on downs. Show Low had little enough time left to take a couple of knees and win the hard-fought game.