The Sand Devils football team improved their record to 2-0 after a 29-28 home win against Holbrook Friday night. 

Though the Sand Devils offense played well, it was the defense that really came through. The Roadrunners offense displayed a high-powered, efficient offense in the first quarter and opening minutes of the second quarter. Two minutes into the second quarter, they had built a 28 to 15 lead. But that was where the Sand Devils defense drew a line in the turf that the Roadrunners never crossed again. After putting 28 points on the scoreboard, the Roadrunners offense got just one first down the entire rest of the game. On all of their remaining possessions but one, they went three plays and a punt.

“I think they did a great job defensively,” said head football coach LeLand “Bubba” Billie. “It wasn’t just one player standing out for us, we had a lot of players who made plays. And Holbrook was tough, I’ll give them that. They were tough.”

Though the Holbrook offense choked in the game’s second half, they came out strong in the game’s opening quarter. They needed only three plays to find the endzone on their first possession. On their second possession, the Holbrook quarterback ran 87 yards to the endzone on the first play. 

On the ensuing kickoff, Page’s Michael Gonzales returned the ball to the Sand Devils’ 45-yard line. On the first play from scrimmage, Joseph Benally – getting his second start at quarterback – connected a pass to Isaiah Nelson, who eluded a Roadrunner defenders on his way to the endzone. Runningback Vance Gardner added two points on the point after touchdown.

But the Roadrunners wasted no time rebuilding their lead. On the kickoff, the Roadrunner kick returner carried the ball 75 yards to Sand Devils endzone. With 3:20 left in the first quarter, the Roadrunners led 20-8.

On the Sand Devils next possession, quarterback Joseph Benally carried the ball across mid-field and all the way to the Roadrunners 7-yard line. Two plays later, Benally threw a pass into the corner of the endzone, which was pulled in by running back Landon Mansker. Connor Peterson kicked in the extra point. Sand Devils 15, Roadrunners 20.

Holbrook scored one last time on their first drive of the second quarter, increasing their lead to 13 points. 

Though the Roadrunners offense was done for the night, the Page offense still had a couple scores left in them.

The next score came on a 62-yard touchdown pass to Tyree Stingley. Stingley added 2 more points on the PAT.   

The Sand Devils scored again on their next drive on a 22-yard pass to Mansker, followed by a 55-yard pass to Stingley, which gave the Sand Devils their first lead of the game – 29 to 28 – with 2:21 remaining in the third quarter. 

The Sand Devils played iron-wall defense for the remainder of the game, allowing the Roadrunners offense a single first down.

The final score read Sand Devils 29, Roadrunners 28. 

Coach Billie added that overall, he was happy with his offense.

“We were able to pass the ball quite well,” he said. “We didn’t establish the run game as well as we’d like to. That‘s something we’ll work on this week. Overall, I was very happy with our intensity and the level we’re playing at on both sides of the ball.” 

This week’s game will be played on Thursday, instead of Friday. The Sand Devils will be hosting 1-1 Payson, who is fresh off a win against Winslow.