The Littlefield Wildcats’ varsity football team was clicking on all cylinders on Friday night as they defended Wildcat Stadium against the Stanton Buffaloes, bringing home the victory, 60-21.
With the win, the Wildcats improve to 6-1 overall, 2-0 in district play.
The Wildcats got the ball to begin the contest, and took over on offense at their own 25-yard line after a short return from Gabe Montalvo.
Junior quarterback, Chip Green, kept it himself on first and second down, picking up a yard, and junior tailback, Major McNeese, took a run on third down, up to their 36-yard line for a fresh set of downs. Two plays later, Green kept it himself on a run to the left, taking it to the house for a 64yard touchdown run with 10:31 to play in the opening quarter. The PAT from Angel Salazar was good, making the score, 7-0, Wildcats.
Stanton took over at their own 22yard line, but were only able to muster a yard, before being forced to punt the ball away from their own 23-yard line with 9:03 to play in the first quarter.
Littlefield wasted no time finding the endzone again, as Green hit McNeese with a screen pass to the left on first down, as McNeese cut it up the Littlefield sideline, following a lead block from Jakob Kirkland, on his way to a 57-yard touchdown with 8:48 remaining in the quarter. The PAT was good from Salazar, pushing their lead to, 14-0.
Stanton was able to get some offense going on their next drive, as they drove the ball down to the Littlefield 14-yard line, before things stalled. Angel Sifuentes lined up for a 30-yard field goal attempt and drilled it to cut the lead to, 14-3, with 5:37 to play in the quarter.
The Wildcats got the ball in great field position, after an onside kick try rolled out of bounds for Stanton.
Littlefield took over at their own 48yard line and they were able to take the ball down to the three-yard line of Stanton, and on fourth and goal from the three-yard line, they elected to try a field goal, but the 20-yard attempt from Salazar was no good, giving Stanton the ball back with 3:23 remaining in the quarter.
The Buffaloes were unable to capitalize, as they went three and out with 2:12 to play in the quarter, however the return was muffed by MJ Randle, and recovered by the Buffaloes at the Littlefield 45-yard line with just under two minutes to play in the quarter.
The stingy Wildcat defense continued to roll as they picked off Jake Benedict on second down; Gabriel Villanueva came down with the interception with 1:49 remaining in the quarter.
Littlefield took over at their own 34yard line, s Sam Hill took a sweep to the left for six yards before being brought down by Kameron Isemann. The second down pass to Omar Martinez was dropped and Green’s pass on third down was caught by Josiah Garcia, but he was unable to do anything after the catch, making it fourth and one.
The Wildcats elected to go for it on fourth down near midfield, as Green dropped back and heaved a pass down the Littlefield sideline that was caught by Garcia, who took it down to the 10-yard line to set up first and goal. Three plays later, Green would cap off the drive with a one-yard touchdown run with 18 seconds to play in the quarter. The PAT was no good, leaving the score, 20-3.
Stanton’s next drive extended into the second quarter, but on first down, Benedict was picked off by McNeese, who returned it up to the Littlefield 35yard line with 11:47 to play in the first half.
Stanton took a time out and out of the break, Green hit Brady Jones with a pass to the right, and after the play, the Buffaloes were flagged for a horse collar tackle, taking the ball down to the Stanton 35-yard line. After picking up just two yards on the first and second down, Green dropped back on third down and hit Martinez deep over the middle for the 33-yard touchdown pass with just over 11 minutes remaining in the half. The two-point conversion pass to McNeese was good, stretching the lead to, 28-3.
Stanton’s offensive struggles continued, as they were forced to punt again with 8:09 to play in the half.
Littlefield’s offense continued to put on a clinic, as Hill caught a pass for six yards on first down, taking the ball up to their 37-yard line. On second down, Green connected with Martinez for a 62-yard pass, as he was stopped at the one-yard line to set up first and goal for the Wildcats. Green would punch it in for the score to cap off the drive and the PAT was good from Salazar, making the score, 34-3, with 7:18 remaining in the half.
Littlefield’s defense continued to be solid, as they forced another three and out, as Stanton punted the ball away with just over six minutes remaining in the first half.
Montalvo took the punt return up to midfield, before being brought down by Zane Henderson, as the Littlefield offense came back onto the field, looking to add to their touchdown totals.
Littlefield was able to drive the ball down to the 13-yard line, but on fourth and three they elected to try a 30-yard field goal, but the kick from Salazar was wide right, giving Stanton the ball with 4:26 to play in the half.
Stanton, though was unable to get anything going deep in their own territory, as they punted the ball away from their own 13-yard line on fourth down, but the kick was shanked, giving Littlefield the ball at the Buffaloes’ 35-yard line.
Littlefield again wasted no time getting the offense going, as Ian Mendez took a second-down carry up the middle for a 65-yard touchdown run. The PAT by Salazar was good, extending the lead to, 41-3, with 2:50 to play in the half.
Littlefield’s defense got in on the scoring, as Benedict was picked off by Martinez on first down, who took it to the house for the pick-six. Salazar’s PAT was good, stretching the lead to, 48-3, with 2:25 to play in the half.
The Buffaloes took over at their own 20-yard line, in desperate need of some offense. They were able to march 80 yards, capping off the drive with a nine-yard touchdown run by Benedict. The PAT from Sifuentes was blocked by Gabriel Villanueva, leaving the score, 48-9, with 26 seconds to play in the half.
Littlefield took a knee to take the game into halftime, in complete control, 48-9.
Stanton got the ball at their own 19yard line to start the second half, but three plays into the drive, the Buffaloes were picked off by Randle, giving the Wildcats the ball at the Stanton 24-yard line with 10:30 to play in the third.
Green connected with McNeese on first down, as he took the ball down to the 10-yard line to set up first and goal and three plays later, Green hit Martinez on a fade route in the corner of the end zone for the 10-yard touchdown. The PAT by Salazar was no good, leaving the score, 54-9, with 9:35 to play in the third.
Stanton turned the ball over on downs on their next possession, as Littlefield regained possession with 5:52 to play in the third.
The Wildcats added another score, as Green connected with a wide open Martinez for a 46-yard touchdown pass with 5:11 to play in the quarter. The PAT was no good, leaving the score, 60-9.
Stanton would add a score to begin the fourth quarter, as Isemann scored on an 11-yard run with 11:53 to play in the game. The two-point conversion pass was incomplete to Jahir Galindo, making the score, 6015.
Later in the fourth, Benedict would score on a two-yard run, but the PAT was no good, leaving the score, 6021, as the Wildcats took down the Buffaloes in district play.
The Wildcats totaled 586 yards of total offense; including 306 passing yards and 280 rushing yards.
Green finished the game 11-16 passing for 306 yards and three touchdowns. He also added 10 carries for 116 yards and four touchdowns to lead the rushing attack.
Mendez tallied nine carries for 90 yards and one touchdown, while Hill added five carries for 30 yards and Randle tallied one carry for 30 yards.
Martinez led the receiving game with three catches for 119 yards and two touchdowns, while McNeese added two catches for 71 yards and one score. Garcia tallied two catches for 50 yards, while Jones added one catch for 30 yards and Redman finished with one catch for 18 yards.
Defensively, the Wildcats hauled in four interceptions, including a picksix by Martinez.
The Wildcats will have their first road test of the district season, as they travel to Abernathy on Friday to take on the Antelopes.
Kick-off is slated for 7 p.m.