The Sedona Red Rock Scorpions are on the road to the state playoffs.

With the Scorpions 28-6 conference win over the Pinon Eagles, who were seated in the No. 1 spot of the Division V Section I conference with an 8-1 record, the Scorpions will make their first state playoff appearance since 2005. Ending the 2012 regular season with a 6-4 record, the Scorpions officially have their first winning season since 2003.

“Defensively, the boys played lights-out in the first half,” said Rick Walsworth, SRRHS head coach. “Coach [Scott] Gilbert, our defensive coordinator, has done a great job of getting our guys prepared for each game all season, and the kids have made significant progress as a unit from early in the season.”

On Friday, Oct. 26, the Scorpions traveled to Pinon for their final game of the season, a game that held a lot of weight, since a win meant state playoffs, and a loss meant saying goodbye to football season.

In the first quarter of the game, Pinon went three and out due to the Scorpions’ defense.

Senior Ryan Ramirez had three carries for 28 yards on the ensuing possession. Freshman Nolen Wilson scored his first varsity touchdown from 3 yards out, and senior quarterback Keenan Crans ran in the 2-point conversion to make it an 8-0 lead.

After a failed onside kick, Ramirez intercepted a pass and returned it for 9 yards to the Sedona 44-yard line on the first play of Pinon’s next possession. After three consecutive false start penalties, which pushed the Scorpions back 15 yards, Crans hooked up with Ramirez for a 25-yard screen pass on third-and-29, but the fourth down conversion attempt came up short.

Junior Mason Aronson, however, recovered a Pinon fumble on the Eagles next possession. Ramirez had four carries for 40 yards, and Crans carried twice for the last 9 yards into the end zone. The extra point kick attempt failed, making the score

For the full story, please see the Wednesday, Oct. 31 issue of the Red Rock News.