The Littlefield Wildcats’ varsity football team celebrated homecoming on Friday with a, 42-0, shutout victory over the Lamesa Golden Tornadoes.
With the win, the Wildcats stay undefeated on the year with a mark of 4-0.
In the first quarter, senior receiver, Javen Jimenez, was on the receiving end of a 73-yard touchdown strike from sophomore quarterback, Chip Green, on the first play of the game to put the Wildcats up, 6-0, after the missed PAT by Angel Salazar. The stingy Littlefield defense took the field after a big kick-off return from Lamesa’s Luke Martinez, but just three plays into the drive for Lamesa, Pedro Barrioz was picked off by Jimenez, who returned it up to the Lamesa 48-yard line with 10:08 remaining in the opening quarter.
Littlefield’s drive would stall out on a fourth and short situation when a fumble by Mason Jones was recovered by Barrioz at the Lamesa 24-yard line with 8:21 to play in the quarter. Lamesa’s offense jogged back onto the field, but much like the first drive, this possession ended before it could get started. On second and long, Barrioz was picked off by senior, Daniel Garcia with 7:36 to play in the quarter, giving the Wildcats the ball at the Lamesa 48-yard line.
After a turnover on downs from each team, Littlefield got the ball back and put together an 84-yard drive that was capped off with a one-yard touchdown run from Green to start the second quarter. The PAT by Salazar was good, making the score, 13-0, with 11:56 to play in the first half.
Lamesa’s offensive woes continued, as Martinez fumbled the ball on first down and it was recovered by Josiah Garcia with 11:39 to play in the half. Littlefield took over at the Lamesa 45-yard line and needed just five plays to find the end zone, as Green connected over the middle with receiver, Omar Martinez for a 33-yard touchdown with 10:05 remaining in the second quarter. The PAT was good from Salazar, making the score, 20-0.
Lamesa was set to get the ball to start the second half, but a squib kick was recovered by MJ Randle, giving the Wildcats the ball at the Lamesa 26-yard line. The Wildcats wasted no time finding the end zone, as Mason Jones took a carry around the left side for a 26-yard touchdown run with 11:51 to play in the third. The PAT sailed through the uprights making the score, 27-0.
The Wildcat defense was faced with a fourth and two, as the Golden Tornadoes tried to run the ball, but it was stuffed by Brady Jones for a turnover on downs with 9:29 remaining in the quarter. The Wildcats were able to drive down to the one-yard line, but Green was stuffed at the line of scrimmage for a turnover on downs with 5:08 to play in the third quarter. However, on the very next play, Keaton Bolton was tackled in the end zone for a safety to stretch the lead to, 29-0.
Lamesa punted the ball away to begin the fourth quarter, but Jimenez fielded the ball at his own 20-yard line before racing to the left side of the field and cutting it back to the middle on his way to an 80-yard punt return touchdown with 11:37 left to play in the game. The PAT was good, making the score, 36-0.
Littlefield would tack on a fouryard touchdown run by Major McNeese with 9:09 to play, as they went on to take the contest, 42-0.
Green finished the game sevenof- 16 passing for 196 yards, two touchdowns and one interception, while also adding 19 carries for 42 yards and one touchdown on the ground. Mason Jones led the rushing attack with 20 carries for 126 yards and one touchdown, while Sam Hill chipped in five carries for 68 yards and McNeese added six carries for 30 yards and one touchdown.
Jimenez led the receiving game with two catches for 92 yards and one touchdown, while Martinez tallied two catches for 61 yards and a score and Mendez contributed three catches for 43 yards.
The Wildcats close out the predistrict schedule this Friday when the Brownfield Cubs (4-0) come to town for a battle of unbeatens.
Kick-off is slated for 7 p.m.