Round Valley 14 Winslow 7 in play-off: Ganado, Tuba city and Winslow Rock eliminated

The Round Valley Elks eliminated the Winslow Bulldogs from the Arizona State 3A Football Play-offs with a 14-7 win at Winslow on Friday. The Elks (6-4) advanced to the second round of the tournament where they will meet Parker (8-2) on Thursday. Parker advanced with a 56-14 win over Eloy Santa Cruz. Winslow finished its season with a 6-4 record.

The biggest play of the game may well have been a referee's flag that nullified an 80-yard kick-off return by Shawn Mead of the Bulldogs to start the second half. The teams had battled to a scoreless tie through the first two periods. The penalty took the points off the board and put the Bulldogs in a deep hole at their own 10-yard line.

An exchange of punts left Winslow at its own four-yard line where the Elks Josh Rogers turned in the defensive play of the game when he caught a Bulldog fumble in mid-air and lumbered the final four yards to pay dirt. The conversion failed and Round Valley led 6-0 with 3:55 left in the third quarter.

Winslow answered with a 60-yard scoring drive climaxed by a four-yard Steven Martinez run. Brandon Nazario booted the conversion and the Bulldogs held a 7-6 lead with 1:40 left in the period.

The lead didn't last long as Buddy LeSueur scored the eventual game-winning touchdown on the first play of the fourth period. LeSueur broke through the Bulldog defense and scampered 47 yards for the score. Travis Hamblin ran for the two-point conversion and the 14-7 Round Valley lead that would withstand Winslow's final assaults.

The Bulldogs had one more promising threat, which ended when a fake field goal attempt was stopped at the Elk 39-yard line.

Snowflake 20 Ganado 14 in overtime

The Snowflake Lobos came from behind to nip the Ganado Hornets 20-14 in overtime in an Arizona State 3A Conference Football Play-off game played at Ganado on Friday. Snowflake (7-3) advanced to the second round in Mesa on Friday where they will meet the Wickenburg Roughriders (8-2) 14-6 winners over Safford. Ganado finished its season with a 10-2 record.

Snowflake scored a defensive touchdown with 7:26 left in the third period to put the first points on the board. Ricky Brimhall scooped up a bad snap to the Ganado punter and raced 47 yards to pay dirt. The conversion gave the Lobos a 7-0 lead.

Ganado tied the game with 4:54 left in the period when Chris Semore hit Almon Nelson from 22 yards out. The conversion knotted the score at 7-7.

The Hornets moved ahead in the fourth period on a 17-yard Semore to Cody Mueller aerial. The conversion gave Ganado a 14-7 lead.

Snowflake knotted the score again when Jeff Reidhead hooked up with Josh Jacobson for a 61-yard scoring pass. The conversion was the final point of regulation play, which ended with the score tied at 14-14.

The Lobos had the first possession in overtime and scored on a five-yard Reidhead to Brimhall pass. The conversion attempt failed and Snowflake led 20-14.

Ganado had its chance to tie or win on the final series of overtime. Snowflake's Jeremy Smith snuffed out that last hope and ended the game when he intercepted a Hornet pass in the end zone.

Tuba City, Window Rock squads eliminated

The Tuba City Warriors and the Window Rock Scouts were eliminated from the Arizona State 3A Conference Football Play-offs by Blue Ridge and Show Low respectively in games played on Friday at Lakeside and Show Low.

Blue Ridge (10-0) defeated the Warriors 40-13, scoring the first 40 points on the game before Tuba City put 13 on the board in the final period. The Yellowjackets will meet Seton Catholic (8-2) in Mesa on Friday. Seton upset Coolidge 13-11 to advance.

Show Low (7-3) hammered the Scouts 50-8 to advance and will meet Globe on Thursday at Mesa. The Tigers (8-2) advanced with a 31-16 win over River Valley.

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