The Littlefield Wildcats’ varsity football team overcame a slow start to throttle the Morton Indians, 60-14, on Friday night to win their Homecoming game.
With the win, the Wildcats improve to 3-1 overall on the season.
The Indians got the ball to begin the game, but had nothing going early. The Littlefield defense forced a fourth down deep in Morton territory, and the Indians lined up to punt, but ran a fake, as Brayden Villarreal took off on a run to his right, picking up the first down to move the chains for Morton.
The Indians lined up to continue their drive at their own 31yard line, but they were flagged for holding on first down, backing it up to first and 20. Two plays later, AJ Mendoza kept it himself on a run up the middle, but after the play, Littlefield junior linebacker, Ben Castillo, was flagged for targeting and disqualified from the game, as the ball was moved up to the Indians 45-yard line.
Morton would move the ball into Wildcat territory and on first down, Villarreal would hit Mendoza for a 48-yard touchdown pass down the sideline with 6:10 left to play in the opening quarter. The twopoint conversion run from Villarreal was good, putting the Indians in front, 8-0.
The Wildcats went three-andout on their first drive, as senior, Ian Mendez, punted the ball away on fourth down with just over five minutes to play in the first quarter.
Littlefield’s defense tightened up on the next drive, giving up just a yard, as Morton too punted the ball away after going three-andout with 3:35 to play in the quarter.
Senior quarterback, Chip Green, completed a pass out to his left to senior, Eizeah Coleman, and the Indians were flagged for pass interference moving the ball up to midfield. Green again tossed a pass out to his left to Coleman, who picked up six yards on first down. Two plays later, Green connected with senior, Gabriel Villanueva on a slant over the middle for a 47-yard touchdown pass with 2:29 remaining in the quarter. The PAT from senior, Adam MacDonald was off the right upright leaving the score, 86.
The Indians took over after the kick-off at their own 30-yard lines after the kick rolled out of bounds, but they were unable to materialize anything offensively, punting the ball away from their own 28yard line on fourth down.
Littlefield’s next drive spanned into the second quarter and on fourth and goal from the one, Green punched it in on the quarterback sneak for the score. The two- point conversion pass to Major McNeese was no good, leaving the score, 12-8, with 10 minutes to play in the first half.
Morton got the ball at their own 28-yard line to begin their next drive, but would lose five yards before punting the ball away on fourth down. The Wildcats got a solid return from McNeese, but it was called back for a blindside block, as they began their next drive at their own 18-yard line.
Green picked up three yards on a quarterback keep to the left, before hitting senior, Bradyn Redman, on a pass to the right to move the chains for Littlefield. Green kept it on first down for two yards, but again connected with Redman to move the chains, taking the ball up to their 42-yard line. Two plays later, Mendez broke through the line for a 58-yard touchdown run, making the score, 19- 8, after the PAT from MacDonald with 6:35 to play in the first half.
The kick-off was fumbled by Xavien Rodriguez and recovered by the Wildcats with 6:27 to play in the half.
The Littlefield offense picked up where they left off, as McNeese picked up four yards on first down. After an incompletion to Coleman, Green connected with sophomore, Jayden Barrio on backto- back passes, taking the ball down to the Morton 20-yard line. A holding penalty backed the Wildcats up to the Indians’ 30yard line, but on second and long, Green hit junior, Zane Champion, for a 30-yard touchdown pass. The PAT from MacDonald sailed through the uprights, pushing their lead to, 25-8.
The high kick-off was fielded by Champion at the Indians 41-yard line to give the Wildcats an extra possession with 5:18 to play in the half.
The Wildcats wasted no time getting back to the endzone, after a pass interference call on Morton moved the ball down to the 29yard line, McNeese got the call on 1st down, take a run up the middle before breaking out to the right side for the 29-yard touchdown run. The PAT was blocked by the Indians and scooped up and returned by Hezekiah Silvas deep into Littlefield territory before he was ran down by Coleman, leaving the score, 32-8.
Morton’s next drive began at their own 40 and Mendoza hit EJ Rivas for a big pass, but he was ran down by Champion at the Littlefield eight-yard line. Morton took a time out with 4:18 to play in the half, and a few plays later on fourth and goal from the 18-yard line, Mendoza was picked off on the goal line by Barrio, who returned it out to their own 22-yard line.
Littlefield was unable to capitalize on the turnover, as they were forced to punt the ball away with 1:04 remaining in the half, but the score would stand, going into the locker room at halftime.
Villanueva returned the opening kick-off of the second half to the Wildcats’ 48-yard line to give the offense great field position and on the first play of the drive, Green connected with Villanueva for a 52-yard touchdown pass with 11:37 remaining in the third quarter. MacDonald’s PAT was good, pushing their lead to, 39-8.
Littlefield’s stingy defense forced another punt on Morton’s next possession getting the ball back for the offense at their own 47-yard line with 9:18 to play in the third.
Mendez picked up five yards on a first down run up the middle and two plays later, Green kept it himself, going up the middle for a 48yard touchdown run. The PAT from MacDonald was good, making the score, 45-8, with 8:44 to play in the quarter.
After another punt from Morton, Littlefield’s offense used a quick strike to find the endzone once more, as Green hit Coleman over the middle for the 47-yard touchdown pass with 6:54 to play in the quarter. The PAT from MacDonald was no good, leaving the score, 53-8.
After a series of turnovers by both teams, with five seconds remaining in the third quarter, Green slung a pass out to his left to Champion, who cut it up the home sideline for a 75-yard touchdown. The PAT was good from MacDonald, making the score, 608, heading into the fourth quarter.
Morton would score on the last play of the game, as Jaeden Alvarado hit Rivas for a 47-yard touchdown pass, but the PAT was no good, as Littlefield went on to take the contest, 60-14.
Green finished the game 15-19 passing for 337 yards and five touchdowns, while adding 15 carries for 97 yards and two scores.
Mendez tallied four carries for 70 yards and a touchdown, while McNeese added five carries for 44 yards a touchdown. Jose Payan tallied six carries for four yards.
In the receiving game, Villanueva hauled in three catches for 107 yards and two touchdowns, while Champion tallied two catches for 105 yards and two touchdowns and Coleman finished with 58 yards and one score. Redman contributed five catches for 54 yards and Barrio tallied two catches for 13 yards.
The Wildcats will host the Brownfield Cubs on Friday.
Defensively, the Wildcats were led by Caden Reys and Redman, who tallied nine tackles apiece, each with one tackle for loss. Reyes also recorded a sack and Redman tallied a fumble recovery. Marcquis Rosemond notched seven tackles, two for loss, while Jakob Kirkland chipped in six tackles, one for loss. AJ Cantu had two tackles and a fumble recovery, while Champion added one tackle and a fumble recovery. Barrio added two tackles and an interception.
Kick-off is slated for 7 p.m.