The Littlefield Wildcats’ varsity football team lost a heart-breaker on Friday to Coahoma, 71-70, after a controversial call on the twopoint conversion.
With the loss, the Wildcats boast an overall record of 4-2 heading into district play.
The Wildcats totaled 695 yards of offense, including 529 passing yards and 166 rushing yards.
Littlefield got the ball to begin the contest, but after picking up a first down, on second and 10, quarterback, Chip Green was sacked by Landon Wells, fumbling the football and it was recovered by Gage Simmons for a turnover with 10:57 to go in the opening quarter.
Coahoma took over at the Littlefield 40-yard line and after a pass fell incomplete on first down looking for Wells, back-to-back carries by Jaidyn Vineyard gave the Bulldogs a first down at the 30-yard line to move the chains. Two plays later, Boyd Cox completed a pass to his right to Jordan Gonzales, who picked up six yards before being tackled by Eizeah Coleman.
Vineyard was stuffed on third down by Marcquis Rosemond, but the Bulldogs lined up to go for it on fourth and four, as Vineyard barreled ahead for a first down, down to the 18-yard line. On first down, Cox connected with Wells in the endzone for a 12-yard touchdown with 7:55 to play in the game. The PAT from Lanson Moore was good, making the score, 7-0.
An onside kick attempt was recovered by Caden Reyes, giving Littlefield the ball at their own 36yard line. Three consecutive runs by Ian Mendez set the Wildcats up with a fresh set of downs. On first down, Green connected with Zane Champion, who gave the Wildcats another first down and two plays later, Mendez capped off the drive with a three-yard touchdown run with 6:42 to play in the quarter. The PAT from Adam MacDonald was good, leaving the score, 7-7.
Coahoma took over after a short kick return at their own 30-yard line and they were able to drive the ball down to the Littlefield 21-yard line, but on fourth and two, Vineyard was tackled in the backfield by Ben Castillo for a turnover on downs with 2:38 to play in the quarter.
Littlefield took over at their own 24-yard line and wasted no time marching back down the field. Green kept it himself on first down, but on the next play, the Wildcats were flagged for holding, backing them up to 2nd and 11, as Green hit Coleman on a slant route to move the chains for Littlefield.
Back-to-back runs by Major McNeese set the Wildcats up with third and four from the Bulldog 27yard line and an offsides penalty on Coahoma moved the sticks, giving them a fresh set of downs. Back-to-back runs by Mendez and a quarterback keeper by Green had the Wildcats facing a fourth and two from the 14-yard line to open the second frame.
The Wildcats elected to go for it, as Mendez plunged ahead for the first down to set up first and goal. Three plays later, Green used a hard count to get the defense to jump offsides, as he hit Champion in the corner of the endzone for a touchdown with 11:09 to play in the first half. MacDonald’s PAT was good, making the score, 14-7.
Wells would call for a fair catch on the kick-off, downing the ball at their own 26-yard line. However, the Bulldogs needed just four plays to answer, as the 74-yard drive was capped off with a 60yard touchdown run by Vineyard with 9:25 to go in the half. A bad snap on the PAT was fielded by Moore, but he was tackled by Reyes, as Littlefield kept the lead, 14-13.
The Coahoma kick-off rolled out of bounds giving Littlefield the ball at their own 35-yard line. Green hit Champion on back-to-back passes, taking the ball into Coahoma territory at the 49-yard line. Mendez carried the ball for no gain on second down, but on the next play, Green hit Gabriel Villanueva down the far sideline for a 49-yard touchdown pass with 7:43 to play in the half. The PAT from MacDonald was good, pushing the lead to, 21-13.
The Bulldogs got a big return from Noah White on the kick-off, setting them up with first and 10 at their own 40-yard line to begin their next drive. Coahoma use a heavy dose of Vineyard on the ground, before Cox connected with Jayden Henderson for a seven-yard touchdown pass with 4:38 left to play in the half. Cox hit Wells on the two-point conversion to tie the game, 21-21.
The onside kick attempt was downed by Reyes at their own 31yard line, and on the first play from scrimmage, Green tossed a screen pass to McNeese on the left side, as he took it down the sideline for a 69-yard touchdown with 4:15 to play in the half. The PAT from MacDonald was good putting Littlefield back in front, 28-21.
Coahoma would not get out of their own territory on their next possession, as they were forced to punt it away from their own 27yard line with 2:24 left to play in the half.
Littlefield took over at midfield, as Green connected with Reyes and Champion on back-to-back throws to set up third and one inside Coahoma territory. Green kept it on the sneak, picking up a first down, as Littlefield took a time out with 1:33 to play in the half.
Out of the break, Green kept it again picking up eight yards on first down, before hitting Coleman on the next play to move the chains again for the Wildcats. Green kept it himself on three consecutive plays to bring up third and goal from the three-yard line, as Littlefield called for a time out with 20 seconds to play in the half. Out of the break, Villanueva carried it around the right side on the sweep for the three-yard touchdown run. The PAT was good, making the score, 35-21, with 16 seconds to play in the half.
The score stood going into the locker room at halftime.
Coahoma got the ball first to begin the second half, putting together a 13-play, 80-yard drive that was capped off with a four-yard touchdown run by Vineyard on fourth down. The PAT from Moore was good, making the score, 3528, with 7:06 to play in the third quarter.
The onside kick was muffed by Reyes and recovered by Simmons, giving Coahoma the ball at the Littlefield 39-yard line.
The Bulldogs wasted no time getting even, as Vineyard carried the ball on first down, taking it up the middle for the 39-yard touchdown. The PAT from Moore was good, tying the game, 35-35, with 6:54 to play in the quarter.
The next kick-off from Coahoma was knocked out of bounds by Littlefield, as they took over at their own 39-yard line. However, they would go four and out, as Green was stuffed on fourth and two for a turnover on downs with 5:46 to play in the third quarter.
Coahoma took over at the Littlefield 44-yard line and needed just two plays to find the endzone once more, as Vineyard broke loose for a 29-yard touchdown run up the middle with 5:36 to play in the quarter. The PAT from Moore was good, putting the Bulldogs in front, 42-35.
Mendez returned the next kickoff to their 35-yard line where the offense would begin their next drive. Green took to the air on first down, finding Coleman to his left for a first down. On the next play, Green hit Villanueva deep over the middle for a first down at the seven-yard line. Three plays later, McNeese would rush for a threeyard touchdown run with 4:10 to play in the quarter, however, the PAT was missed by MacDonald, making the score, 42-41.
Coahoma got the ball back at their own 32-yard line, after White was tackled by Jacob Silvas on the kick return. Back-to-back runs from Vineyard took the ball up near midfield for the Bulldogs and on second down, Cox connected with Gonzales on a pass to the left, moving the chains, taking the ball down to the Littlefield 31-yard line.
Two plays later, Vineyard took the direct snap up the middle for the three-yard touchdown run with 1:35 to play in the quarter. The PAT from Moor sailed through the uprights making the score, 49-41.
Littlefield would punt the ball away to end the third quarter and Coahoma began the fourth quarter at their own 45-yard line. On third and three, Cox rolled out to his left on a play action, finding Gonzales for a 38-yard touchdown pass with 10:31 to play in the game. The PAT was good from Moore, pushing their lead to, 56-41.
The onside kick was recovered by Champion at their own 38-yard line, as the Wildcat offense came back onto the field.
Green connected with Coleman on a pass to the right to move the chains and on the next play, Mendez picked up a yard on the ground. Green was stuffed on second down, but on the next play, he found Villanueva with a pass on the left side, who took the ball down to the 15-yard line for a first down.
Runs by Mendez and Green set them up with a third and one from the six-yard line and Mendez picked up two yards to make it first and goal from the four-yard line, before Villanueva took a carry around the right side on the sweep for a touchdown with 8:16 remaining. The two-point conversion pass to Jose Payan was good, making the score, 56-49.
Coahoma was flagged for holding during the kick-off return and never got going, as they were forced to punt it away on fourth down.
The Wildcats responded in a big way, as Green tossed a screen pass out to McNeese on the left side, who sprinted down the Littlefield sideline for a 89-yard touchdown. The PAT from MacDonald was good, making the score, 56-56, with 5:18 left to play.
Coahoma, though, would get the ball back at their own 33-yard line, as Vineyard caught a screen pass on the left side taking it down the Bulldog sideline for a 67-yard touchdown with 5:06 left to play. The PAT was good, putting Coahoma back in front, 63-56.
The onside kick was fielded by Jayden Barrio at their own 35-yard line. Green completed a pass to Coleman on first down, but the Wildcats were flagged for an illegal man downfield, backing them up to their own 30-yard line.
Two plays later, Green hit Villanueva for a first down, taking the ball up to their 45-yard line. Coleman caught a pass on the left side, moving the chains for the Wildcats, taking it down to the Coahoma 25-yard line. Mendez picked up a yard on first down a pass deep down the right side for Champion was broken up by Noel Loya.
Green found Barrio on a slant on third down, taking it down to the 10-yard line to set up first and goal and Green picked up five yards on a quarterback keeper, as Littlefield took a time out to talk things over. Two plays later, Green hit Coleman on a slant route in the end zone for a touchdown with 2:53 to play. The Wildcats went for two, as Green connected with Coleman to take a one-point lead, 64-63.
Coahoma took over at their own 33-yard line and after an incomplete pass on first down, they fed the ball to Vineyard on back-toback plays setting them up with fourth and one. They went for it, as Vineyard took the direct snap up the middle for a 58-yard touchdown run with 1:33 to play. The Bulldogs lined up for a two-point conversion as Cox pitched the ball to Henderson, who gave it to Wells on the reverse, who threw it to Cox for the conversion, making the score, 71-64.
Champion recovered the onside kick at their own 37-yard line. Green kept it himself for eight yards on first down and two plays later, he connected with Mendez, who took it to the 50-yard line before getting out of bounds, moving the chains for the Wildcats. Two plays later, Green hit Mendez on a pass, but the Wildcats were flagged for holding, backing them up to their own 41-yard line.
Coahoma would bail out the Wildcats on the next play with a roughing the passer penalty, pushing the ball into Bulldog territory at the 46-yard line. Two plays later, Green would hit Mendez in the endzone for the 27-yard touchdown pass making it a one-point game, 71-70. The Wildcats lined up for a two-point conversion, as Green rolled out to his right before tucking it and running, but he was stopped at the goaline, as Coahoma survived, 71-70.
Offensively, Green finished the game 25-30 passing for 529 yards and six touchdowns, while adding 18 carries for 93 yards.
The rushing attack was led by Mendez, who tallied 16 carries for 41 yards and a score, and McNeese who finished with five carries for 25 yards and one touchdown. Villanueva also had two carries for seven yards and two touchdowns.
In the receiving game, McNeese tallied three catches for 161 yards and two touchdowns, while Villanueva chipped in five catches for 152 yards and a score and Coleman hauled in seven catches for 119 yards and a touchdown. Champion also added five catches for 47 yards and a score and Mendez finished with three catches for 34 yards and a touchdown.
Defensively, Ben Castillo led the Wildcats in tackles with 19, including three for loss, while Caden Reyes tallied 11 tackles, including one for loss. McNeese chipped in seven tackles, while Villanueva tallied six tackles and Champion finished with five tackles on the night.
The Wildcats will open district play on Friday at home against Slaton.
Kick-off is slated for 7 p.m.