The Littlefield Wildcats’ varsity football team wrapped up their pre-district schedule on Friday, taking down the Coahoma Bulldogs, 35-21, to celebrate homecoming with a victory.
With the win, the Wildcats improve to 6-0 heading into district play.
The Wildcats totaled 369 yards of offense, including 186 rushing yards and 183 passing yards.
Coahoma got the ball to open the contest, starting on their own 43-yard line after a solid return from Austin Molina.
The Bulldogs came out with a heavy dose of Lanson Moore running the ball on the ground, as he carried it six straight times, taking it down to the Wildcat 26-yard line. On second and seven, Austin Joslin connected with Andre Rushin for the 26- yard touchdown through the air. The PAT by Moore was no good, leaving the score, 60, with 8:09 to play in the opening quarter.
Both teams would go three-and-out on their next possessions, having to punt the ball away.
The Wildcats took over at the Coahoma 40-yard line with 5:24 remaining in the first quarter. Blayton Soliz got the carry on first and second down picking up four yards and on third and six, quarterback, Sammy Saenz dropped back and delivered a strike to Jayden Barrio in stride for the 36yard touchdown pass. The PAT from Barrio was good, putting Littlefield in front, 7--6.
The Bulldogs took over after the kick-off at their own 38-yard line, after a return from Jayden Henderson.
They were able to drive the ball just inside Littlefield territory, but faced with a fourth and two from the Littlefield 43-yard line, they elected to go for it, and Moore was stopped short for a turnover on downs with 1:30 left to play in the first quarter.
The Wildcats were unable to capitalize on the turnover, as they went three-and-out, punting the ball away with six seconds remaining in the quarter.
Moore closed out the first quarter with a six-yard run for the Bulldogs, and they began the second quartet with second and four from their own 12-yard line.
Their drive stalled out and they were forced to punt it away from their own 18yard line, giving Littlefield the ball at the Wildcat’s 34yard line with 9:59 to play in the first half.
Saenz connected with Cooper Price on a firstdown pass that went for no gain and Saenz kept it himself on second down, picking up three yards to make it third and seven. Saenz dropped back on third down and connected with Gabe Mata, who took it up to their up 49-yard line to move the chains for the Wildcats. The Wildcats were flagged for holding on first down, backing them up to 1st and 13 from their own 47, but back-to-back passes to Zane Champion made it third and three. Daniel Rojas got a carry on third down, but he was stopped for no gain. The Wildcats would elect to go for it on fourth down, as Saenz plowed ahead up the middle to move the sticks again for Littlefield. After a Rojas run on first down, back-to-back passes for Barrio fell incomplete, bringing up fourth and seven from the Coahoma 27-yard line. The Wildcats would go for it again on fourth down, as Saenz dropped back and found Champion sprinting down the sideline for a 27- yard touchdown pass through the air. The PAT from Barrio was good, pushing their lead to, 14-6, with 6:26 to play in the half. Coahoma took over on offense at their own 37- yard line, but the drive would be derailed, as Joslin was pressured by Ivan Hernandez and he was picked off by Champion with 5:07 to play in the half. Littlefield was unable to take advantage of the turnover, just four plays later, Saenz connected with Champion on a short pass, but he had the ball stripped out and recovered by the Bulldogs with 4:13 to play in the half. Coahoma would put together a seven play, 58-yard drive that was capped off with a one-yard rushing touchdown. The Bulldogs went for the two-point conversion, as Moore carried it around the right side on the option to tie the game, 14-14, with 2:20 to go in the second quarter.
Coahoma booted the ball into the endzone for a touchback, giving Littlefield the ball at their own 25-yard line. Saenz was stopped for no gain on first down, but he connected with Barrio on the next play for six yards, making it third and four. On third down, Coahoma was flagged for a late hit, moving the ball across midfield to the 46- yard line. On second down, Saenz hit Barrio for seven yards and Soliz followed it up with a run to move the chains for the Wildcats, taking it down to the 36-yard line. Two plays later, Saenz would connect with Barrio for their second score of the night, this time a 37-yard touchdown pass with 36 seconds remaining in the half. The PAT from Barrio was good, putting the Wildcats back in front, 21-14. The score would stand going into the locker room at half time. Littlefield got the ball to begin the second half, but a bad snap was recovered by Jordan Gonzales for Coahoma, giving them the ball at the Littlefield 28-yard line. The Wildcat defense, though, would bow their necks and deny the Bulldogs on fourth down, as Joslin was looking for Henderson, forcing a turnover on downs with 7:51 to go in the third quarter. The Wildcats would take over at their own 11-yard line, using a balanced attack to move the ball down the field. The Bulldogs were flagged for a defensive holding penalty on third and five, giving Littlefield a fresh set of downs. The Wildcats used a combination of runs from Saenz and Soliz, and on third and seven from their own 46-yard line, Saenz hit Champion on a slant route to move the sticks again for Littlefield. Soliz would cap off the drive with an 11-yard touchdown run up the middle with 3:54 to play in the third. The PAT from Barrio was good, making the score, 28-14.
The Wildcats tried an onside kick and it was recovered by Littlefield, but the refs ruled that it was recovered before the line to gain, giving Coahoma the ball at the Littlefield 49-yard line. Coahoma would put together a 49-yard drive that ended when Joslin found Henderson on a 32-yard touchdown pass down the left sideline. The PAT from Moore was good, trimming the lead to, 28-21, with 1:02 remaining in the third quarter. The Wildcats would take their next drive into the fourth quarter, and on third and three, Jonas Camacho broke loose up the middle for a 36-yard touchdown run. The PAT from Barrio sailed through the uprights to stretch the lead to, 35- 21, with 11:52 to play in the game. The score would stand, as the Wildcats closed out the pre-district schedule with a, 35-21, victory over Coahoma. Offensively, Saenz finished the game 16-20 passing for 183 yards and three touchdowns. He also added 18 carries for 58 yards on the ground. Soliz led the rushing attack with 13 carries for 66 yards and a score, while Camacho tallied four carries for 53 yards and a touchdown. In the receiving game, Barrio hauled in four catches for 86 yards and two touchdowns, while Champion chipped in five catches for 51 yards and one score. Mata tallied two catches for 22 yards and Soliz added three catches for 17 yards. Defensively, the Wildcats were led by Barrio, who tallied 13 tackles, 11 solo, and Saenz, who finished with 10 tackles, five solo and one for a loss. Jacob Silvas tallied nine tackles, four solo, and one for a loss, while Soliz chipped in seven tackles, four solo. Champion also contributed an interception. The Wildcats will begin district play this week when they travel to Slaton to take on the Tigers. Kick-off is slated for 7 p.m.