Lowry’s Anthony Monroy looks for room to run after a reception during Saturday’s game with Elko.
If you have lived in Winnemucca for a few years, you would know Saturday afternoon high school football games are few and far between.
Due to a lack of officials, the Lowry High School football team had to move its traditional Friday night homecoming game to Saturday afternoon.
There have been just three Saturday games at Jerry Tobin Field — Damonte Ranch for homecoming in 2004, Sparks in 2005 and a playoff game versus Spring Creek in 2010.
There was still a large crowd, as Lowry took on Elko but five turnovers and a touchdown called back on a penalty ended up helping the Indians to a 28-7 win, as the Buckaroos dropped to 1-2 in the Northern 3A and 1-4 overall.
After taking the opening kick to near midfield, Lowry saw its initial drive end with an interception at the 2-yard line.
Elko methodically moved the ball 98 yards, taking off nearly five minutes off the clock.
Two plays after a Lowry taunting penalty, Jake Carsrud capped off the drive with a 15-yard run for a 7-0 Indian advantage.
The Buckaroos were right back in Indian territory, as Matthew Casalez returned the ensuing kick to the Elko 48-yard line.
However, for the second straight drive, Lowry was intercepted at the 1-yard line, stopping the drive.
The Lowry defense held its ground and got the ball back after a punt and used an offsides penalty on Elko on 4th and 2 to keep the possession going.
The Buckaroos appeared to tie the game on a 23-yard run by Erick Valencia, but it was called back on a holding penalty. The drive stalled on downs from there.
With a under a minute to play in the first half, Lowry fumbled an Elko punt, putting the ball at the Lowry 30-yard line.
Elko took advantage of the turn over and scored on a 30-yard pass by Ethan Kranitz to Coy Jones for a 14-0 lead at halftime.
After both teams traded punts to begin the second half, Elko increased its lead to 21-7 with four minutes left in the third quarter on a 78-yard run by Kranitz after consecutive penalties on the Indians.
Lowry cut the deficit to 2-17 with 41 seconds left in the third quarter, as Valencia scampered threw the Elko defense for a 41-yard touchdown.
The Indians put the contest out of reach after a 20-yard throw and catch from Kraintz to Jones, with 5:34 to play.
The schedule doesn’t get any easier for Lowry, who travels to league-leading Truckee on Friday for a 7 p.m. kickoff.
The Wolverines are the two-time reigning 3A state champion.