The Olton Mustang’s varsity football team broke into the win column on Friday, as they won their homeopener over the Dimmitt Bobcats, 33-14, at Mustangs Stadium.
With the win, the Mustangs improve to 1-1 overall on the year.
The Olton Mustangs received to open the game, recovering the short kick-off from Dimmitt at their own 36yard line.
Olton used a heavy dose of running back Callen Burns to open the contest, but would find themselves faced with a fourth and one early from just inside midfield. They lined up to go for it and were able to draw the Bobcats offsides to keep the drive alive at the 50-yard line.
Olton would drive the ball down to the Dimmitt 18-yard line, before stalling out and on fourth and seven, the pass for Manny Carrasco fell incomplete from Brady Azam for a turnover on downs with 8:08 to play in the opening quarter.
Dimmitt took over at their own 18-yard line, as the Bobcats ran for no gain on first down. Kaden Carpio threw a screen out to his right to Frankie Cortez, who picked up a solid gain, moving the ball up to their 38yard line for a fresh set of downs. Olton’s defense would bounce back and force a three-and-out, as the Bobcats were forced to punt it away with 6:55 to play in the quarter.
Olton took over at their own 32-yard line, as Callen Burns carried it on back-toback runs, picking up a first down, moving the chains for the Mustangs. Azam hit Carrasco on a screen to the left for a short pick up, and Callen Burns added a few more yards on a run up the middle, bringing up third and two from the Dimmitt 45-yard line.
Azam connected with Zayden Falcon on a pass to the right to move the chains again for Olton and on the next play, Azam called his own number, keeping it on a run up the middle for a 41yard touchdown with 5:08 remaining in the first quarter. The PAT from Chris Cabrera was good, making the score, 7-0.
Dimmitt took over at their own 28-yard line and would drive the ball into Olton territory, but on third and long, Carpio was picked off by Alex Green, who returned it back to the Dimmitt 38-yard line with 2:02 to play in the first quarter.
Azam threw the ball away on first down, but Callen Burns carried it on the next play, taking it up the middle for a first down. Azam took the quarterback keeper around the left side for three yards and Callen Burns used back-to-back carries to move the chains, taking the ball down to the 18-yard line. Paytn Jimenez carried the ball on back-to-back plays to close out the first quarter for the Mustangs.
On first and goal from the four- yard line, Emmitt Nelson pounded the ball into the endzone for a touchdown to open the second quarter. The PAT from Cabrera was good, making the score, 14-0, with 11:55 to go in the first half.
Dimmitt took over at their own 42-yard line, after a big return from Josiah Torres. But after getting the ball into Olton territory, on fourth and long, Cortez was stopped short of the sticks on a fake punt for a turnover on downs with 8:35 to go in the half.
After a series of empty possessions from both teams, Dimmitt had the ball at their own 17-yard line, but just three plays into the drive, Carpio was picked off by Paytn Jimenez with 1:55 to play in the half.
Olton took over at the Dimmitt 21-yard line, as Azam completed a pass to the right to Green to set up first and goal from the nineyard line. Callen Burns would punch it in on the next play to make the score, 200, with 1:35 left to play in the first half.
Dimmitt got the ball to begin the second half, but the Bobcats were forced to punt on their opening-possession of the second half, giving Olton the ball at the Mustang 35-yard line.
Azam called his own number on first down, taking it down to the Dimmitt 45-yard line for a new set of downs. Azam connected with Carrasco on a screen pass to the left for six yards and three consecutive runs from Callen Burns had the Mustangs facing third and five from the 29-yard line.
Jimenez plowed ahead on third down, picking up six yards to move the chains for Olton. He would carry it three more times, before Azam hit Green with a pass to his right to set up third and short, and Callen Burns plunged ahead on the next play to set up first and goal for the Mustangs. Nelson would power it in for the one-yard score with 6:44 to play in the third quarter, but the PAT by Cabrera was blocked by Gustavo Lopez, leaving the score, 26-0.
After several empty possessions from both teams, Olton got the ball back to begin the fourth quarter at their own six-yard line.
Azam kept it on first down, taking it up to the 25yard line to move the chains for Olton and Callen Burns followed it up with a run up the middle for two yards. Two plays later, Azam drew the Bobcats offsides to make it third and two, and on the next play, Callen Burns rushed up the middle, taking the ball across midfield to the 32-yard line, for a first down.
Azam hit Nelson over the middle for a first down at the 17-yard line and two plays later, Azam would hit Carrasco for the touchdown with 9:40 left to play in the game. The PAT from Carrasco was good, pushing the lead to, 33-0.
With 5:32 to play in the game, Azam was picked off by Xaden Vargas, who returned it all the way back for the pick-six. The PAT by Isaiah Flores, trimming the lead to, 33-7. Dimmitt would score once more with 3:26 to play, as Carpio kept it himself for the one-yard score. The PAT was good from Flores, cutting the lead to, 33-14, as Olton went on to take the contest.
The Mustangs will be on the road to take on Texico, N.M. on Friday.
Kick-off is slated for 7 p.m.