The Littlefield Wildcats’ varsity football team saw their season come to an end on Thursday night at Happy Bank Stadium in Canyon, as they fell to the Childress Bobcats, 84-34.
With the loss, the Wildcats finish the season with a mark of 8-3.
Childress got the ball to begin the game, as Corbyn Taylor fielded the kick-off and returned it across midfield to the Wildcat’s 43yard line.
The Bobcat offense came out on to the field for their first possession, but they would go backwards and after back-to-back runs by Lucian Davis and an incompletion from Koen Galligan, they were forced to punt it away with 10:32 to play in the opening quarter.
Littlefield, though, was unable to answer on their first offensive possession, as they too had to punt the ball away with 8:46 to play in the first quarter.
Childress took over after a return from Creedan Bell, at the Littlefield 44-yard line. Davis picked up five yards on a run to the right before he was tackled by a pack of Wildcats, but a pass on second down from Galligan was batted down by Sammy Saenz, making it third and five, as Littlefield took a time out with 7:54 remaining in the quarter.
Out of the break, Davis took a run to the right, breaking a tackle in the backfield before sprinting up the sideline for the 39-yard touchdown run with 7:46 left to play in the first quarter. The PAT by Juan Yebara sailed through the uprights, putting Childress in front, 70.
Littlefield’s offense took over at their own 20-yard line, after the kick-off, but they were unable to get anything going offensively, as they went three-and-out, punting the ball away again with 5:59 to play in the quarter.
Childress took over at the Wildcat 36-yard line, but after three consecutive runs, they were faced with fourth and four from the 30-yard line. They elected to go for it, but the pass from Galligan fell incomplete, as he was looking for Jacob Mora for a turnover on downs.
Littlefield took over with 4:37 to play at their own 30yard line, as Saenz dropped back on first down and delivered a deep ball to Jayden Barrio, who broke a tackle on his way to a 70-yard touchdown with 4:25 to play in the quarter. His PAT was good, tying the game, 7-7.
Childress took over after the kick-off at their own 38yard line after a return from Taylor.
Davis carried the ball on back-to-back plays, bringing up third and five and Galligan connected with Benton Sims, who took it across midfield to the Littlefield 34-yard line for a fresh set of downs. On the next play, Galligan connected with Bell on the right side for a 34-yard touchdown pass with 2:53 to play in the quarter. The PAT was good, pushing the Childress lead to, 14-7.
The Wildcat offense came back out on to the field, starting their next drive at their own 26-yard line, as Blayton Soliz took a run up the middle for eight- yards. Saenz was stopped for no gain on a second-down run, but he was able to break free on third down, taking the ball across midfield to the Bobcat 33-yard line for a fresh set of downs.
Jonas Camacho carried the ball on first down, but it was brought back on a holding penalty, backing the Wildcats up to the Childress 43-yard line. Saenz dropped back on first and long, looking for Barrio, but the pass fell incomplete as Saenz was shaken up on the play and had to leave the game.
The Wildcats were hit with a delay of game penalty, as Head Coach Bo Bryant called a time out to talk things over with his team. Out of the break, the pass from Barrio fell incomplete looking for Gabe Mata. On third and long, Barrio was picked off by Luke Rodriguez, but the play was waived off for a defensive pass interference call, giving Littlefield an automatic first down at the Childress 33-yard line.
Saenz would re-enter the game taking a run up the middle, but he was stopped for a one-yard loss. Two plays later, he would connect with Barrio for a first down at the Childress 20yard line. Saenz hit Zane Champion with a pass to the left for five yards and two plays later, Saenz would call his own number taking it down to the nine-yard line to set up first and goal.
Camacho took the first down run to the left for seven yards, as the first quarter came to a close.
After flipping the field, Saenz scored on a two-yard touchdown run with 11:57 to play in the half. The PAT from Barrio was good, knotting the game again, 14-14.
Childress would go on a tear, scoring 28 unanswered points, take a 42-14, lead with with just over five minutes to go in the half.
With under a minute to go in the half, Ivan Hernandez recovered a fumble for the Wildcats deep in Childress territory and a few plays later, Champion would score on a jet sweep, followed by Barrio’s PAT to close out the half with Childress in front, 42-21.
The Wildcats received to open the second half, but Saenz was stuffed on the Starburst return, as Littlefield took over on offense at their own 22-yard line. Saenz connected with Barrio for seven yards on first down, and on the next play, Camacho broke loose up the middle for a 71-yard touchdown run with 11:35 to play in the third quarter. The PAT by Barrio was good, trimming the lead to, 42-28.
Bell returned the next kick-off out to the 41-yard line for Childress, as the Bobcats offense came back on to the field.
Galligan connected with Crewz Keys on a pass to the right, taking the ball into Wildcat territory at the 46yard line to move the chains. Davis picked up three yards on a first-down run, as the Bobcats took a time out with 10:11 left to play in the third. Out of the break, Galligan kept it on a run up the middle, before being brought down at the 29-yard line, moving the chains again for Childress.
Two plays later, Galligan would hit Keys for a 15-yard touchdown pass with 8:45 to go in the quarter. The PAT was good, pushing the lead to, 49-28.
Littlefield took over at their own 25-yard line after a touchback on the kick-off by Yebara.
Saenz tried to set up a screen to the left for Camacho, but it was batted down by Colton Teichelman. Saenz hit Barrio on a pass to the right for a first down at the 38-yard line, and Camacho followed it up with a four-yard run, making it second and six from their own 42-yard line.
On the next play, Saenz dropped back and hit Mata for the 58-yard touchdown pass with eight minutes to go in the third. The PAT from Barrio was no good, leaving the score, 49-34.
Childress though would close out the game on a, 350, run, as Littlefield fell to the Bobcats, 84-34.
Offensively, Saenz finished the game 20-34 passing for 262 yards, three touchdowns and one interception, while also adding 14 carries for 60 yards and one touchdown.
On the ground, Camacho led the rushing attack with 13 carries for 102 yards and a score, while Soliz tallied nine carries for 41 yards and Barrio added five carries for 24 yards.
Barrio led the receiving game with 11 catches for 142 yards and a touchdown, while Mata contributed four catches for 103 yards and a score and Champion finished with four catches for 11 yards and a touchdown.