The Littlefield Wildcats’ varsity football team wrapped up their regular season on Friday with a, 49-28, victory over the Roosevelt Eagles on senior night, securing their spot in the play-offs.
With the win the Wildcats finish the season 8-2 overall, 2-2 in district play.
The Eagles won the coin toss and elected to go on defense first. The Wildcats took over after a touchback at their own 25-yard line. Zane Champion carried the ball on first down for a short gain and Sammy Saenz followed it up with a pass to Jayden Barrio, bringing up third and eight from their own 27-yard line. On third down, Saenz dropped back and hit Barrio deep down the right side to set up first and 10 from the Eagle’s 27-yard line.
Two plays later, Saenz dropped back on third down and connected with Champion for the 24-yard touchdown pass with 10:53 to play in the opening quarter. The PAT from Barrio was no good, making the score, 6-0.
The Eagles took over at their own 17-yard line, and were able to drive the ball up near midfield, before their drive stalled out.
Littlefield took over near their own 30-yard line, but after moving the ball back into Eagle territory, they were stopped on fourth down, as a pass from Saenz was dropped by Gabe Mata for a turnover on downs with 5:38 remaining in the first quarter.
Roosevelt took over at their own 24-yard line,as Ricardo Perez took a sweep around the right side for five yards. Perez got the call again on the next play, taking a counter to the left side for a first down, moving the ball up to the 34-yard line. Joseph Kemp would call his own number on back-toback plays, picking up just four yards to make it third and six from the 38-yard line.
The Eagles would end up punting it away two plays later, giving Littlefield the ball at their own 37-yard line with 2:31 remaining in the quarter.
Daniel Rojas got the carry on first down, picking up a yard and on the very next play, Saenz dropped back and connected with Barrio on a screen to the right, as he cut it up the home sideline for a 62-yard touchdown run with 1:57 to play in the first quarter. The Wildcats went for the twopoint conversion, as Saenz connected with Jacob Fuentes to push their lead out to, 14-0.
The Eagles took over at their own 40-yard line, as their drive spanned into the second frame. Roosevelt would take the ball all the way down to the Wildcats’ five-yard line, but on fourth and goal, Jaden Zuniga was stuffed on a rush up the middle for a turnover on downs with 7:12 to play in the first half.
After an empty possession from each team, the Wildcats got the ball back at their own 45-yard line with 1:50 remaining in the half.
Saenz called his own number picking up six yards on first down, as the Eagles took a time out with 1:19 to play in the half. Out of the break, Saenz hit Champion on a screen to the left, as he took it down the sideline to set up first and goal from the eight- yard ine. Jonas Camacho picked up two yards on first down and on the next play, Saenz took up the middle himself for the six-yard touchdown run with 47 seconds to play in the half.
The PAT from Barrio was good, stretching the lead out to, 21-0, going into the locker room at halftime.
The Eagles got the ball to begin the second half, and just three plays into their drive, Zuniga took a carry around the right side for a 66-yard touchdown run with 10:26 to play in the third quarter. The PAT from Angel Fernandez was good, trimming the lead to, 21-7.
The Wildcats took over after an onside kick try at the Eagles 42-yard line, but they would go four-and-out, as Saenz was stuffed on a run up the middle on fourth and one for a turnover on downs with 9:48 to play in the third quarter.
Three plays later, Perez would break through the middle of the defense, keeping his balance, as he rumbled for a 64-yard touchdown run with 8:11 to play in the quarter. The PAT from Fernandez was good, slicing the lead to, 2114.
Both teams punted on their next possession and Littlefield would get the ball back with 2:32 to play in the third at the Eagles 47-yard line.
Saenz hit Cooper Price on a pass to the left, as he cut it down field to the Eagles 30-yard line to give them a fresh set of downs. Camacho picked up a yard on first down, but on the next play, Saenz would connect with Champion on a pass to the left, as he took it down to the 18-yard line for a new set of downs.
Three plays later, on third and long, Saenz tossed a screen pass out to his left to Camacho, who turned and cut it up field for the 23-yard touchdown with 1:16 to play in the quarter. The PAT from Barrio was good, making the score, 28-14.
The Eagles would go threeand- out on their next possession, as they were forced to punt the ball away with 35 seconds remaining in the third quarter.
Littlefield would take their next possession into the fourth quarter and on third and seven, Saenz hit Barrio with a pass to the right for a first down at the Eagles’ 26-yard line. Saenz and Barrio would connect again on the next play for another first down to the 12-yard line and two plays later, Saenz would punch it in for the one-yard touchdown run with 11:23 remaining in the contest.
The PAT was good, extending the lead to, 35-14.
The Wildcat defense forced a turnover on downs, as Zuniga was stopped short of the line to gain on fourth down by Jonah Ramirez with 9:33 to play in the contest.
Littlefield took over at the Eagles’ 41-yard line, as Saenz dropped back and hit Mata down the far sideline, who juked the defender for a wouldbe walk in touchdown, but the play was negated by a holding penalty, backing them up to first and 20 from their own 49yard line.
Rojas picked up five yards on a first-down run and Saenz hit Barrio for a pass on the right side, as he took it down to the 19-yard line to move the chains for Littlefield. Saenz called his own number and moved the chains again for the Wildcats, taking it down to the five-yard line to set up first and goal. Two plays later, Ben Castillo would punch it in for the five-yard touchdown run with 7:51 to play in the game. The PAT from Barrio was good, making the score, 42-14.
Roosevelt would take over at their own 36-yard line and just two plays later, Kemp dropped back and connected with Ryan Bradshaw, who got behind the defense for a 68yard touchdown pass. The PAT from Fernandez was good, trimming the lead to, 4221, with 6:49 left to play.
An onside kick try was recovered by Fuentes at the Littlefield 44-yard line, as the offense came back out onto the field. Rojas carried the ball up the middle for a first down, and on the next play, Saenz connected with Champion for a two-yard pass. On second and eight, Saenz dropped back and hit Mata for a 41-yard touchdown pass with 6:15 to play. The PAT from Barrio was good, stretching the lead to, 49-21.
The Eagles would score a late touchdown, as Perez broke loose up the middle for a 43yard score with 41 seconds remaining. The PAT was good, making the score, 49-28, as Littlefield went on to take the victory on senior night.
Offensively, Saenz was 2134 passing for 400 yards and four touchdowns, while adding 12 carries for 45 yards and two touchdowns.
In the rushing attack, Camacho tallied seven carries for 42 yards, while Rojas added six carries for 34 yards and Castillo chipped in one carry for three yards and a score.
In the receiving game, Barrio hauled in nine catches for 207 yards and one touchdown, while Champion contributed six catches for 86 yards and one touchdown. Mata added two catches for 61 yards and one score and Camacho finished with one catch for 23 yards and a touchdown.
Defensively, Castillo led the way with 26 tackles, six for loss, while Saenz added 17 tackles, one for loss, and Barrio finfeated ished with 13 tackles, one for loss. Jacob Silvas and Jonah Ramirez each tallied nine tackles and a sack, while Mata added three tackles and an interception.
The Wildcats are open this week and await the loser of the Canadian and Childress in the Class 3A Bi-district round of the play-offs. Details are TBA.