Kay Solomon’s first-year joyride as Snowflake’s head football coach turned somewhat unpleasant last week.

He missed a couple of practices to undergo a non-life threatening medical procedure. The timing of the hospital visit — Snowflake played in the D-IV quarterfinals Saturday night — wasn’t ideal.

Plus, Snowflake travelled to Goodyear to face Estrella Foothills and the state’s leading rusher, Joe Logan, a two-way star as well as the team’s vocal leader. Missing the game wasn’t an option for Solomon.

In his absence during practices, Solomon’s assistants did an excellent job of preparing Snowflake, which gave Logan space to roam only once en route to a 26-7 victory and earning its second consecutive trip to the semifinals. Snowflake and Estrella Foothills didn’t score until the final seconds of the first half, when they combined to turn the ball over five times, including twice on downs.

But Snowflake opened the second half with a defensive stop and then a nine play drive, capped by a 40-yard touchdown run by quarterback Tyler Claridge. Snowflake will play Northwest Christian at Arcadia in the Nov. 21 D-IV semifinals. 

With 8:27 remaining in Saturday's game, Estrella Foothills outside linebacker Travis Haymore appeared to suffer a neck injury after tackling a Snowflake running back. Haymore got up after the play, but then fell to the ground.

The game was halted for about 30 minutes so that paramedics could take Haymore to a local hospital. The junior was moving his arms and legs but also feeling some numbness and tingliness, according to trainers.