The Lobos' Co-Championship Season 40 Years Ago
Lobos and Elks Both Crowned Champions in the Fall of 1985
40 years ago, the Class A state championship game ended in a 21-21 tie between Snowflake High School and Round Valley High School. Both high schools were crowned co-champions. The Arizona Interscholastic Association’s bylaws at the time did not allow for the championship game to continue into overtime. AIA’s archive website indicates that a tie has occurred in seven football championship games, the most recent in 1994 when Mogollon tied Mayer in the 1A final.
The Lobos were led by Rich Hoyt, who was in his 2nd season as the head coach. Hoyt previously coached in Williams, Arizona.
In 1985, the ‘A’ East region included Snowflake, Holbrook, Winslow, Show Low, Blue Ridge, Alchesay, Round Valley, and Saint Johns. During the regular season, the Lobos beat Saint Johns in overtime and lost to Round Valley. Saint Johns upset Round Valley in the last game of the regular season, thereby creating a 3-way tie between Snowflake, Round Valley, and Saint Johns for the region crown.
Only the top two teams from the region proceeded to the playoffs. To determine the two teams that would advance, the Lobos, Redskins, and Elks met at Lobo Stadium for a tie-breaker mini-playoff. The play-in tournament was hastily set up for the Tuesday of the first week of the playoffs. A snowstorm dropped a few inches the night before, and it was a frigid afternoon for the play-in tournament. Round Valley drew a first-round bye. The Lobos first played Saint Johns for one quarter. The Lobos won that shortened game. The Lobos then played the Elks for a quarter and lost that quarter. The Elks advanced as the first seed and the Lobos as the second seed from the East region.
The Redskins were left out of the playoffs even though they probably deserved to be included. There were no formulas back then to rank the teams. The top two teams from each region advanced regardless of the strength of their regular-season schedule.
In the playoffs, the Lobos traveled to Window Rock for the quarterfinals and beat the Fighting Scouts 30-14. The Lobos then beat the Miami Vandals in the semifinal game 28-6. Meanwhile, Round Valley beat Page and then Safford to reach the final. The stage was set for Snowflake and Round Valley to meet up again to determine the state champion. The Lobos and Elks squared off at Mesa High School. The game resulted in a 21-21 tie.
A week after the game, Round Valley Coach Tot Workman sent a letter to Snowflake’s Coach Hoyt. It said the following:
Dear Coach Hoyt,
Now that I have had time to sit and reflect on our experience a week ago, the more I realize what a great game it was. I also realize what a great privilege it was for me to coach this game. Reason #1 – To coach against such a fine staff as yours.
Reason #2 - To coach against such a class group of kids as yours.
Reason #3 – To coach against such a fine community.
Reason #4 – To have the same three reasons on my side.
I love my staff, kids, and community just as I know you do. I have coached 228 games, and I now have one tie. It was a hard-earned tie that I will always remember, and be grateful for in many ways. Coach I wish you the very best and look forward to seeing you in the off-season. Please take time to congratulate your fine team. I always appreciate a tough, clean bunch of young men. They are a credit to you, your school, your community and most of all to their families and self.
Respectfully yours,
Coach Tot Workman, Head Football Coach
After the season, the Arizona Republic newspaper named Lobo players Kay Solomon, Jeff Smith, Darrell McCray, and J.T. Ellsworth as all-state first team. Russel Peterson was named to the second-team all-state.
The Lobos would repeat as champions in 1986 without a tie and go on to win 6 titles in 9 seasons from 1985 to 1993. The Elks would not achieve another championship until 2019.
This year, the three schools are now in 3 different conferences. Round Valley and Saint Johns are playing for state championships in their respective conferences, while the Lobos were defeated in their quarterfinal match. That season 40 years ago, however, was one of many memorable moments that these former East Region rivals share. Best of luck to the Redskins and Elks this Saturday!
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