The Littlefield Wildcats’ varsity football team dropped a tough contest in their season-opener at Muleshoe on Friday, as they fell to the Mules, 48-20, in this year’s edition of the ‘War on 84’.
With the loss, the Wildcats fall to 0-1 to begin the season.
The Mules received to open the contest, starting the opening drive at their own 10-yard line. However, after getting out to the Littlefield 40-yard line, their drive was derailed, after Nathan Martens completed a pass to Mauricio Herrera on the left side, he had the ball stripped by senior cornerback, Omar Martinez, who fell on it for the Wildcats first forced turnover of the season with 11:43 remaining in the opening quarter.
The Wildcats took over at their own 46-yard line, looking to capitalize on the turnover, but just three plays into their first offensive drive of the season, junior quarterback, Chip Green, threw an interception to Ramzee Martinez, who returned it up to the Mules 48-yard line with 11:01 to play in the first quarter.
The stingy Wildcat defense would buckle down, and on the very next play, Martens was picked off by senior cornerback, MJ Randle, who took it 52-yards for the house call with 10:49 to play in the quarter. The PAT by junior kicker, Ian Mendez, was no good, leaving the score, 6-0.
The Mules took over after a touchback from Mendez on the kick-off at their own 25-yard line and on first down, Sebastian Kirven took a carry around the left side for seven yards. On second and short, Daniel Sianez took a hand-off breaking loose up the middle for a 68-yard touchdown run with just over 10 minutes remaining in the quarter. The PAT by Herrera was no good, leaving the score, 6-6.
On the ensuing kick-off, the Wildcats got a big return from Omar Martinez, who took the ball up to the Mules 43-yard line, where the offense would take over for their next drive. Just a few plays into the drive, the Wildcats were faced with a fourth and one from the Mules’ 34-yard line. They elected to go for it, as Mendez took the carry up the middle, but he put the ball on the turf and it was recovered by Josue Sigala with 8:25 to play in the quarter.
Muleshoe took over at their own 33-yard line and took the air on first down, as Martens connected with Ramzee Martinez for a huge play, taking the ball down to the Littlefield 16-yard line. The Wildcats’ defense did not break, as they held the Mules, bringing up a fourth and seven from the 14-yard line. Martens dropped back looking for Kirven, but the pass was dropped in the endzone for a turnover on downs with 6:43 to play in the first.
Littlefield took over at their own 14-yard line, as Green kept it himself, picking up a first down, moving the ball up to the 26-yard line. On first down again, he slung a pass out to his right to Randle, who took the ball up to the Mules’ 48-yard line for another Wildcat first down, as the first UIL time out was called with 5:57 to play in the quarter.
A few plays later, the Wildcats were faced with a fourth and two, but a quarterback keeper by Green picked up just enough yards to move the chains for the Wildcats, taking the ball down to the Mules’ 37-yard line. Sam Hill picked up four yards on first down and a pass left to Randle picked up a few more yards to bring up third down. Hill took a carry up the middle to give the Wildcats a fresh set of downs and on the next play, Omar Martinez drew a defensive pass interference call on Herrera, taking the ball down to the 10-yard line to set up first and goal for Littlefield.
On first down, Green would take it himself up the middle for the 10yard score with 4:24 remaining in the quarter. The PAT by Mendez sailed through the uprights, putting the Wildcats back in front, 136.
Muleshoe’s next drive would take the contest into quarter number two and on third and goal from the six-yard line, a pass that was tipped by Gabe Villanueva was hauled in by Ramzee Martinez for a touchdown with just under 12 minutes to play in the first half. The two-point conversion pass from Martens to Yahir Quezada was good, putting Muleshoe back on top, 14-13.
The Wildcats got another big kick return from Omar Martinez, who took the ball up to the Littlefield 44-yard line, where the offense would take over.
Green had a pass on first down dropped by Omar Martinez and back-to-back runs by Mendez and Green had the Wildcats facing a fourth and seven from their own 47-yard line. The Wildcats lined up to punt, as Mendez took the snap, but instead dropped back and found a wide open Omar Martinez, who made the catch for a big gain on the sideline taking the ball down to the Muleshoe 15yard line.
The Wildcats would drive down to the one-yard line, but on first and goal from the one-yard line, Green tried the quarterback sneak, but he fumbled the ball and it was recovered by the Mules with eight minutes to play in the half.
The Mules took over at their own one-yard line, as Martens took a quarterback keeper to the left side, dodging a would-be tackler on his way to a 99-yard touchdown run, but the score was negated, as the play was called back to the 32-yard line for excessive celebration. The Mules, though, would march down the field, capping off the drive with a sevenyard touchdown run by Martens with 5:22 remaining in the second quarter. Herrera nailed the PAT to stretch the Muleshoe lead to, 2113.
Littlefield’s next drive ended in a punt with 3:11 remaining in the half, and after taking over at their own 23-yard line, Muleshoe went 77 yards, capping off the drive with a six-yard touchdown pass from Martens to Kirven with 45 seconds remaining in the half. The two-point conversion by Martens was no good, making the score, 27-13.
The next kick-off was fumbled by Omar Martinez and recovered by Ramzee Martinez, but on the very next play, Martens was picked off by Aaron Chapman, who returned the ball 45 yards to the Mules 43-yard line. The Wildcats took the game into halftime with the score, 27-13.
The Wildcats went three-andout on their opening drive of the second half, and the Mules wasted no time capitalizing on their second play of the drive, Sigala broke free for a 25-yard touchdown run to make the score, 34-13, after the Herrera PAT with 9:48 remaining in the third quarter.
The Wildcats took over at their own 25-yard line, but their woes continued, as Jonathon Salinas came up with the strip sack on Green and the ball was recovered by Aidan Mendoza for a turnover with 9:36 to play in the quarter.
The Mules took over at the Wildcats’ 25-yard line and on first down, Sianez rushed for a 25-yard touchdown with 9:31 to play in the quarter. The PAT was missed by Herrera, but a flag on the play, allowed the Mules to go for two, which they converted to make the score, 42-13.
After a turnover on downs by the Wildcats with just under eight minutes to play in the quarter, the Mules would drive down the field and score, as Martens connected with Ramzee Martinez for a 17-yard touchdown pass with 4:46 to play in the third. The two-point conversion was no good, making the score, 48-13.
Littlefield would tack on one last score with just over two minutes to play in the third, as junior running back, Major McNeese, scored on a six-yard touchdown run, which was followed by the PAT from Mendez, making the score, 48-20.
Neither team would score in the final quarter, as Littlefield fell to the Mules in their opener, 48-20.
The Wildcats totaled 258 yards of total offense, including 139 passing yards and 119 rushing yards.
Green was 10-18 in the passing game for 101 yards and one interception. Mendez also threw one pass for 38 yards.
In the rushing attack, Green led the team with 19 carries for 52 yards and a touchdown, while McNeese tallied nine carries for 42 yards and a score. Mendez had six carries for 11 yards and Sam Hill had three carries for six yards.
In the receiving game, Randle had five catches for 59 yards, while Martinez had three catches for 53 yards and McNeese hauled in two catches for 16 yards. Josiah Garcia tallied one catch for 11 yards.
Defensively, Chapman led the team in tackles with nine and he also had an interception on the night. Hill tallied eight total tackles, while Randle tallied six tackles and a pick-six and Noah Lopez notched six tackles and a sack. Martinez, Micah Keeney and Diego Ramirez each contributed five tackles, while Gabe Montalvo, Jeremiah Trevino and Gabe Villanueva each finished with four total tackles.
The Wildcats will be at Wildcat Stadium Friday night as they host the Denver City Mustangs for their home-opener.
Kick-off is set for 7 p.m.