The Littlefield Wildcats’ varsity football team dropped a heart-breaker to the Idalou Wildcats on the road on Friday, 17-13.
With the loss, the Wildcats fall to 54 overall, 1-3 in district play.
Littlefield totaled 223 yards of offense, including 112 passing yards and 111 rushing yards.
Idalou got the ball to begin the game, but after picking up a first down, moving the ball up to their own 48yard line, on first and 10, Kamdon Lutrick was picked off, as a sophomore free safety, Major McNeese, caught a tipped ball for a turnover with 10:56 remaining in the opening quarter.
However, the Wildcat offense couldn’t capitalize on it, after Mason Jones picked up a yard on first down, two plays later, sophomore quarterback, Chip Green, was picked off by Kutter Houchin for a turnover with 9:29 remaining in the first quarter.
Idalou’s second drive started at their own 47-yard line, and they made it all the way down to the Littlefield one-yard line. But, a run by Gentry Pounds was stuffed by the Wildcat defense on first and goal and a pass by Lutrick fell incomplete on second down. Idalou was flagged for a false start on third down, backing them up to third and goal from the nine-yard line. On third down, Lutrick’s pass fell incomplete, forcing Idalou to settle for a 20-yard field goal, putting them in front, 3-0.
Idalou got the ball back taking their drive into the second quarter, where they were faced with a fourth and six from the Littlefield 33-yard line. They elected to go for it, but Lutrick’s pass for Malakhi Brisco fell incomplete for a turnover on downs with 11:55 to play in the first half.
Littlefield took over at their own 33yard line, as McNeese picked up two yards on the first down run. Mason Jones ran the ball on back-to-back plays to pick up a first down for the Wildcats, as Head Coach Jimmy Thomas called a time out with 10 minutes remaining in the half.
Out of the break, Sam Hill took a sweep to the right, but only picked a yard on first down. Mason Jones got the carry on second down, picking up seven yards, as Littlefield took another time out with 8:30 left to play in the half.
Out of the break, Green hit McNeese on a screen to the left, as McNeese turned it up field taking it down to the Idalou 39-yard line for a fresh set of downs. Green was stuffed for a loss on first down, but on the next play, he broke loose for a solid gain, setting them up with first and 10 from the 28-yard line.
The drive stalled, but on fourth and two from the 21-yard line, Green was able to draw the defense offsides for a free play, but he found Omar in the right side of the end zone for a 21yard touchdown with 5:46 to play in the half. The penalty was declined and the PAT was missed byAngel Salazar, making the score, 6-3.
Idalou though would answer as they took over at their own 30-yard line, marching the ball 70 yards, capping off the drive with a nine-yard touchdown run by William Wall on the quarterback keeper. The PAT was good by Cooper Ross, putting Idalou up, 10-6, going into the locker room at halftime.
Littlefield started the second half with the ball at their own 25-yard line, as Green hit senior, Javen Jimenez, on a pass over the middle, as he broke free for a big gain, taking the ball down to the Idalou 40-yard line. Mason Jones ran a counter to the left for five yards on first down and a shovel pass to McNeese picked up two yards on second down. Green kept it himself on third down, taking it down to the Idalou 24-yard line for a fresh set of downs.
Mason Jones was stopped for no gain on first down, but Hill took the second down run to the right for five yards, making it third and manageable. Green hit Jimenz over the middle on third down to move the chains again for the Wildcats and on first down, he hit McNeese for a few yards to make it second and four from the six-yard line.
The drive stalled, but again on fourth and four from the six-yard line, Green rolled to his right before hitting Jimenez on the left side for a six-yard touchdown pass with 6:37 remaining in the third quarter. The PAT by Salazar was good, making the score, 13-10.
A series of punts took the game into the fourth quarter, but after a long drive by Idalou, they were faced with a fourth and two from the Littlefield 26-yard line. They elected to go for it, but Wall was stopped just inches short of the first-down marker for a turnover on downs with 8:47 remaining in the game.
Littlefield was able to bleed over five minutes off of the clock, but they were forced to punt the ball away with 3:29 remaining in the game, as Idalou took over at their own 16-yard line.
Littlefield got Idalou to fourth and seven, but Lutrick hit Brisco on a crossing route, as he took the ball across midfield to the Littlefield 47yard line. The Littlefield defense would tighten back up and after two incomplete passes and a quarterback keeper by Lutrick, Idalou took a time out with 1:12 remaining in the game. Out of the break, they were faced with a fourth and six from the 43-yard line, as Lutrick dropped back and hit Houchin for a long pass down the right sideline, taking the ball all the way down to the 13yard line.
On third and three, Lutrick completed a pass to Gage Pounds, taking it down to the two-yard line, as Idalou took their last time out with 46-seconds remaining. On the next play, Lutrick kept it himself for the two-yard touchdown run to put Idalou back in front, 17-13, after the PAT, with 42 seconds remaining.
Littlefield took over at their own 41yard line, but on second and 10, Green was picked off by Kash Koontz, to ice the game for Idalou.
Green finished the game 18-24 passing for 112 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions, while also adding 14 carries for 42 yards on the ground.
Mason Jones led the rushing attack with 17 carries for 66 yards.
In the receiving game, Jimenez led the team with four catches for 46 yards and one touchdown, while Martinez tallied two catches for 29 yards and a touchdown.
Defensively, Major McNeese hauled in an interception.
The Wildcats will close out the regular season on Friday with a home game against the Roosevelt Eagles.
Kick-off is slated for 7 p.m.
touchdown. Both PAT’s from Lassiter were good, making the score, 56-20, heading into the final quarter of play.
In the final frame, Chancy broke free for a 20-yard touchdown run to make the score, 63-20, after the PAT, and Fabian Gutierrez closed things out with an 11-yard touchdown run to make the score, 6920, as the Mustangs prevailed over the Bulldogs on the road.
Lassiter finished the game 14--21 passing for 310 yards, five touchdowns and one interception, while adding three carries for 72 yards and two touchdowns on the ground.
Gutierrez led the rushing attack for the Mustangs with 11 carries for 104 yards and one touchdown, while Chancy finished with 11 carries for 65 yards and two touchdowns. Baldo Garcia also had six carries for 44 yards.
In the receiving game, Olivas Jr.
tallied eight catches for 154 yards and two touchdowns, while Soliz tallied five catches for 144 yards and three touchdowns.
Defensively, the Mustangs hauled in two interceptions and recovered a fumble.
Olton will close out the regular season on Friday with a home game against Floydada for senior night.
Kick-off is slated for 7 p.m.