The Sand Devils are the 3A North Champions after its defense mounted a strong goal-line stand against the Chinle Wildcats in the waning seconds of the game on Oct. 27. 

On the final drive of the game, the Wildcats offense progressed down the field until it was inside the Sand Devils 5-yard line. They trailed 26-33 with less than a minute remaining in the game. They tried a run play up the middle, and the Sand Devils D-line stopped it cold. They tried a pass on the next play, and Tyree Stingley sacked the quarterback. On the next play, the Chinle quarterback passed again, looking for a receiver in the endzone. The ball was intercepted by Page middle linebacker Tristan Begay, who took a knee in the endzone.

The Page offense moved to the 20-yard line, where the Page quarterback took a snap, took a knee and ran out the clock.

The 33-26 victory capped a remarkable season for the Sand Devils, which finished 7-3 overall and 5-0 in their section. This is the first time Page football has been the 3A North Champions since 2018.

Chinle won the toss and elected to receive to start the game. The Wildcats offense ran three unsuccessful plays and punted. 

The Sand Devils scored on their first play from scrimmage. Starting from their own 47-yard line, Page quarterback Joseph Benally connected with his favorite wide receiver Tyree Stingley, who pulled in the pass, shook off his defenders and sprinted to the endzone for the game’s first score. After a successful point after touchdown from kicker Conner Shirley, the Sand Devils led 7-0 with 9:15 remaining in the first quarter.

Chinle’s offense then found its mojo and scored 20 unanswered points. The Wildcats tied the 

game 7-7 with 4 minutes remaining in the first quarter. They scored again in the first quarter off a 40-yard touchdown pass, and once more in the early minutes of the second quarter off a 20 yard pass. They led 20-7 with 9 minutes remaining in the second quarter.

Page’s offense came alive halfway through the second quarter on another pass from Benally to Stingley. Stingley caught the ball near the 50-yard line, broke through a scrum of Wildcat tacklers and ran to the endzone making the score 13-20.

Two possessions later, the Chinle offense once again found its rhythm and marched down the field on 4- and 5-yard runs from its running back, Iverson Davis, until they stood on the Sand Devils 15-yard line. But then, in one of the season’s most exciting plays, Page cornerback Denali Sagg intercepted a Chinle pass with one foot in the endzone and ran it all the way back to the opposite end of the field. The Sand Devils went for 2 on the PAT and got it. After the 100-yard interception return and 2-point PAT, Page regained the lead, 21-20, with 1:34 remaining in the half. 

The Sand Devils increased their lead 27-20 after yet another touchdown pass to Stingley.

But Chinle’s offense wasn’t ready to give up yet. On its next possession, the Wildcats put together a patient, steady 70-yard touchdown drive that ate 4 minutes off the clock. Their PAT was unsuccessful. 

The Sand Devils defense came up strong several times in the fourth quarter, making two key stops. The first one came a few minutes into the fourth quarter. Trailing 26-27 nearly half way through the fourth quarter, Chinle faced a fourth down and 1 and decided to go for it rather than punt. Page’s defense held and we regained possession. 

Page scored once more with 3:24 left in the game, on another touchdown pass from Benally to Stingley, this one for 50 yards, which gave the Sand Devils a 7-point, 33-26 lead.

As mentioned, Chinle mounted a successful drive in the game’s waning minutes and were mere yards away from scoring, when Tristan Begay intercepted a pass in the endzone, effectively ending the game.

Page High School head football coach LeLand “Bubba” Billie was very happy with his team’s performance under the Friday night lights.

“They never quit fighting,” he said. “We got down early and had to come back and they just never gave up.”

Despite the Sand Devils very impressive 7-3 season, and despite being 5-0 in their section, Page will not proceed to postseason play. In previous years, the winner of the 3A North automatically advanced to the first round of the playoffs, but starting this year, only the top 16-ranked teams are invited to the playoffs. Page finished number 20.

“We’re pretty disappointed about that,” Billie said. “This was our best season since 2018.”

Billie is very optimistic about his program’s future seasons.

“There was a lot of growth this year, as a team and individually,” he said. “We are a young team and we are looking forward to what the future brings.”

A great number of Page’s top playmakers will return next year, including Tyree Stingley, Joey Benally, Connor Peterson, Landon Mansker, Caleb Nix, Cash Lester, Hunter Billah, Manni Green and Deegan Sparks.