Photo: Uriah Tenette has left many defenders frustrated at catching the senior quarterback
#6 Prescott Badgers (10-1) at #3 Snowflake Lobos (11-0)
The Prescott Badgers find themselves in another quarterfinal trip to Snowflake and are hoping for much more success on this trip than they experienced in a 23-3 loss to the Lobos in 2022. There were a number of players on this team that remember that game, but Uriah Tenette was the only one to play a part in it, and not at quarterback either.
Last week the Lobos demolished Canyon Del Oro 59-6, while Prescott took care of Vista Grande 42-20.
The only common opponent this season was the Bradshaw Mountain Bears. Snowflake won at home 47-27 in the season opener, while Prescott beat the Bears in Prescott Valley 27-17.
Prescott continues to enjoy one of their best season in decades. The Badgers got big games on the ground last week from Adam Lloyd (130 yards, 4TDs), and Uriah Tenette (125 yards). Josiah Peoples had two huge touchdown catches, and the defense led by Brody Hanna with his 21 tackles, kept Vista Grande a safe distance away.
Tenette has thrown 20 touchdown passes to just four interceptions and is closing in on 2000 yards passing and just needs 83 to accomplish that. Tenette also has 881 yards rushing and 14 touchdowns. Adam Lloyd leads the team with 886 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns. Peoples has 23 receptions for 691 yards and eight touchdowns. The team has more than 4000 yards of total offense on the season. Prescott averages 35 points per game and gives up 19, and has one shutout.
Snowflake won the 4A East Sky Region and average 36 points per game. They give up just 11 points per game and have three shutouts. The Lobos are led by sophomore quarterback Jacob LaDuke who has thrown for 841 passing yards and 15 touchdown passes, with only three interceptions. LaDuke’s go to receivers are Christian Smith with 299 yards and six touchdowns, along with Merrick Ulberg 280 yards. The ground game is led by committee and where the Lobos shine with Karter Raban, 766 yards and seven touchdowns, Kanton Turley, 755 yards and 10 touchdowns, and LaDuke’s 554 yards.
Defensively, Snowflake is led by Aaden Coor 136 tackles, and Hayydn Nichols 122 tackles. Andrew Bently has 6.5 sacks on the season. Coor also leads the team with three interceptions. They have a very good kicker in Sam Brown with eight made field goals and 46 extra points. Karter Raban averages 46 yards per kickoff return.
The game will be a battle of endurance and the will to win. Both teams can run the ball effectively and it will be up the defenses to slow if not stop them. Snowflake has a lot of weapons, but they do not have the “T” factor. Give Prescott the edge in the passing attack with the elusiveness of Uriah Tenette, and his reliable receivers in Josiah Peoples, Johann Gundermann, Cooper Kasun, and Eli Smith. The winner will host Arcadia or play at AZ College Prep next Friday.
4A Division Quarterfinals, Tonight at 7 pm
#6 Prescott (10-1) at #3 Snowflake (11-0)
#7 Arcadia (10-1) at #2 AZ College Prep (10-1)
#9 Walden Grove (8-3) at #1 Yuma Catholic (10-1)
#5 Thunderbird (10-1) at #4 Mica Mountain (11-0)
