The Littlefield Wildcats’ varsity football team started off fast, but fell short in their efforts on the road on Friday in their district-opener against River Road, falling to the Wildcats, 41-20.
With the loss, the Wildcats fall to 3-4 overall, 0-1 in district play.
Littlefield got the ball to open the contest at their own 43-yard line, after a nice return from Omar Martinez. Senior quarterback, Ethan Garcia, connected with senior tailback, Ty’Jae Chambers, on a swing pass to the left, as he cut it up field for a first down into River Road territory.
Garcia kept it himself on first down, taking it down to the 31- yard line to move the chains again for the Wildcats. Chambers ran a ball to the right on first down for no gain, but on second down, Garcia hit senior, Jordan Trevino on a bubble pass for six yards to bring up third and four from the 25-yard line. Garcia kept it on third and short, but was stopped for no gain, bringing up fourth down.
Littlefield took a time out with 9:30 remaining in the opening quarter, and out of the break, they decided to go for it as Garcia kept it on a run up the middle, taking it down to the 19-yard line for a first down. On first and 10, Chambers carried the ball for two yards, but on second down, Garcia was stopped on a run for no gain.
On third and eight, Garcia hit senior, Ryan West, on a slant, as he took it downfield to set up first and goal at the oneyard line. On first and goal, Garcia capped off the drive with a one-yard run to the right side to put Littlefield on the board. The PAT by Jordan was blocked, making the score, 6- 0, with 7:54 remaining in the first quarter.
River Road took over after the kick-off at their own 30- yard line, as Elliot Brown took a carry around the left side, but it was called back for a holding penalty. On first and long, Dylan Frye, carried the ball to the left for five yards and Brown picked up another five yards on second down, before he was brought down by sophomore, MJ Randle.
Lico Delgado overthrew Brown on a deep ball down the far sideline, forcing a River Road punt with 6:11 remaining in the first quarter.
The punt was down by Jason Quintanilla, as the Wildcats took over at their own 30- yard line.
The Wildcats were unable to capitalize, as they went threeand-out, as junior, Javen Jimenez, punted the ball away on fourth down, with 4:57 to play in the quarter.
River Road took over at the Littlefield 38-yard line, but they’re drive was derailed by a holding penalty. They elected to go for it on fourth and nine and Delgado’s pass was broken up by West, looking for Brown, as they turned the ball over on downs with 2:45 to play in the quarter.
Littlefield’s offense took over at their own 37-yard line, as Garcia’s pass on first down was deflected by the defensive line. He connected with West on a slant to move the chains, taking the ball down to the River Road 48-yard line. Garcia kept it himself on the option to the left, but was stopped for no gain, and on second down, the Wildcats were flagged for illegal procedure, backing them up to second and 15 from their own 47- yard line.
They would bounce back on third down, as Garcia dropped back and heaved a pass down the near sideline that found the waiting hands of Trevino for a huge gain to move the sticks. On the next play, Garcia kept it himself for a 12-yard touchdown run to the left side. The two-point conversion pass was no good, making the score, 12-0, with 1:16 remaining in the quarter.
River Road got a big return from Frye, setting them up with a first down near midfield. They needed just five plays to answer the Littlefield score, capping off a five-play drive with a 25-yard touchdown run to the left side by Brown. The PAT by Brown was good, trimming the lead to, 12-7.
Littlefield got the ball at their own 37-yard line after a short kick-off, but after picking up one first down, the drive stalled out just inside River Road territory. They tried a fake punt on fourth and six, but Jimenez’s run to the right was stopped short of the sticks for a turnover on downs, with 8:22 remaining in the first half.
River Road capitalized on the turnover, as they scored on their next drive on an 11-yard run by Brown with 6:28 to play in the half, making the score, 13-12, in favor of River Road.
Disaster struck just two plays into Littlefield’s next drive, as Mason Jones fumbled a screen pass that was scooped up by Jaelun Nelson and returned to the Littlefield 10-yard line with 5:42 remaining in the half.
Two plays later, Brown would score on an eight-yard touchdown run followed by the PAT to extend the River Road lead to, 20-12, with 5:01 remaining in the half.
The struggles continued for Littlefield, as two plays into their next drive, a high snap was recovered by River Road at the Littlefield 22-yard line. The Littlefield defense would bow their necks, as they forced a turnover on downs with 2:58 to play in the half.
The score would stand, 20- 12, going into the locker room at halftime.
After a series of turnovers to start the third quarter, River Road would cap off a drive with a one-yard touchdown run by Pryce Seymour, followed by the Brown PAT, extending their lead to, 27-12, with 2:09 left to play in the third quarter.
Littlefield’s offense found a spark on their next drive, after taking over at midfield after the kick-off out of bounds by River Road. On second and 10, Garcia hit Chambers on a swing pas to the right, as he cut it up the sideline, breaking several tackles on his way to a 50-yard touchdown. The two-point conversion run by Garcia was good, cutting the lead to, 27- 20, with 1:50 remaining in the quarter.
River Road would close out the game on a, 14-0, scoring run to take the contest, 41-20.
The Wildcats will be at home on Friday, when they host Dalhart, as district play continues.
Kick-off is slated for 7 p.m.