The Scorpions certainly had their chances against visiting Chino Valley High School on Friday, Oct. 14, but the boys in purple and silver were unable to capitalize on an early lead and eventually lost, 48-20.

Senior Bradley Cox gave the Sedona Red Rock High School football team a 6-0 advantage in the first quarter Friday with a 48-yard touchdown run.

Cox had 13 carries for 116 yards and two touchdowns on the night.

On the ensuing kickoff, Sedona Head Coach Rick Walsworth called for a surprise onside kick, and it worked as the Scorpions recovered it looking to go up two scores early.

Sedona was unable to score and Chino Valley tied it 6-6 heading into the second quarter. Both teams scored two touchdowns in the second quarter to go in tied 20-20.

Cox had another big run in the second quarter of the 52-yard variety for a score, and senior wide receiver Chris Oestmann caught a 58-yard touchdown pass from junior T.J. Ryan on another trick play set up by Walsworth.

In the second half, however, Sedona eventually was worn down by the big offensive line for the Cougars. Chino Valley scored 28 unanswered points in the second half to go on and win, 48-20.

“Chino Valley came out with some fire in the second half that they didn’t have in the first,” Walsworth said. “They received the opening kickoff of the second half and used their 100-pound-per-man size advantage on the line of scrimmage to ram it right down our throats.”

With the loss, the Scorpions drop to 3-5 overall this season and are ranked No. 19 in the Division V Arizona Interscholastic Association power point polls.

Sedona has two games remaining on the regular season schedule, the first coming Friday, Oct. 21, on the road at Williams High School.

The Vikings escaped in 2010 with a 27-6 loss in a game where the score didn’t tell the whole story.

Williams is 5-3 this season and is coming off a 54-0 win Friday over Hopi High School. The Vikings sit at No. 16 in the state rankings.

More than likely, the Scorpions will need to win their final two games of the season if they expect to make the playoffs, but right now, all Walsworth is concerned about is Williams.

“Our only concern right now is to beat Williams this week. That is the only thing we have some input on at this point,” Walsworth said.

Sedona wraps up the regular season Friday, Oct. 28, when it plays host to Pinon High School. Both kickoff times for Williams and Pinon are scheduled for 7 p.m.