The Littlefield Wildcats’ varsity football team fell on the road to the Big Spring Steers, 47-29, at Memorial Stadium on Friday night.
With the loss, the Wildcats fall to 3-3 to close out the Pre-District schedule.
The Littlefield Wildcats won the toss and deferred to the second half.
Littlefield’s Javen Jimenez kicked off to get the game underway and the Steers brought the ball up to their own 37-yard line where their offense took over for their first drive. They were stuffed for no gain in first down, but on 2nd down, Big Spring quarterback, Gabriel Baeza, connected with Kavien Ford on a screen, as he took it up field for 11 yards and a first down.
On first and 10, Baeza dropped a pitch pass into the hands of Devin Manning who took it around the right side for eight yards into Wildcat territory. On the next play, Baeza hit Sa’Quan Fizer for a fresh set of downs, at the 40-yard line. Baeza kept the passing game going, as he hit Eli Cobos on a pass to the right to move the chains.
Baeza picked up four yards on a first-down scramble and picked up four more yards on second down with a pass to Cobos. On third and two, Ford took a carry up the middle for a first down at the Wildcats 19-yard line. Three plays later, the Steers were faced with a fourth and one at the Wildcat 10-yard line. They elected to go for it as Baeza ran a sneak in for the touchdown with 7:53 to go in the opening quarter. The PAT by Cobos was good, making the score, 7-0.
Littlefield took over at their own 18-yard line, as their offense took the field for the first time. Senior quarterback, Ethan Garcia, hit senior, Ryan West, on a screen pass to the right for a first down. But the drive stalled as they went three-and-out and Jimenez punted the ball away with 6:38 remaining in the first quarter.
The Steers took over and drove down to the Littlefield 17- yard line, but on fourth and long, Baeza had a pass dropped in the endzone by Manning for a turnover on downs with 5:34 to play in the quarter.” The Wildcats offensive struggles continued as they went three and out, punting the ball away with 3:38 left to play in the quarter.” The Steers took over and did not miss on this possession, capping off a six play, 64-yard drive with a 15-yard touchdown run by Baeza on the option keeper. The two-point conversion was no good, leaving the score, 13-0, with 1:38 left in the first quarter.
The Wildcats would not roll over, as Jimenez fielded the kick off and returned it up to the Steers 48-yard line. Garcia kept it himself on first down for three yards a d senior tailback, Ty’Jae Chambers, took a pitch around the right side for a first down, down to the 34-yard line. Garcia’s pass on first down was incomplete, looking for senior, Jordan Trevino, but on the next play, Big Spring was flagged for being offsides, making it second and five from the 25-yard line.
Garcia hit West on a screen for four yard to close out the first quarter. Littlefield was flagged for a false start to open the second quarter, but on third and six, Chambers took a carry to the left side for a first down, down to the 23-yard line. On first down, Garcia hit Jordan Trevino on a fade route for a huge play down the near sideline to set up first and goal.
Garcia capped on the drive on the next play with a one-yard run up the middle for a touchdown with 11:25 remaining in the first half. The PAT by Jordan Trevino was good, cutting the lead to, 13-7.
The Steers would respond, as they marched down the field on their next possession, capping off a six-play, 67-yard drive with a 15-yaed touchdown pass from Baeza to Cobos. A bad snap on the PAT left the score, 19-7, with 9:57 remaining in the half.
The Wildcats got another big play on special teams, as Jordan Trevino returned the kick off up to the 50-yard line for the Wildcats. However on third and eight, the drive was derailed, as Garcia was picked off by Manning with 8:28 to play in the quarter!
The Steers would capitalize on the turnover, as Baeza hit Kaegen Mitchell with the deep ball for a 49-yard touchdown. The two-point conversion pass to Mitchell was good, extending the lead to 27-7, with 6:06 remaining in the half.
After a punt from both teams, a short punt return by Jimenez set the Wildcats up with first and 10 from the Steers 38-yard line. Garcia connected with Chambers on a screen pass, as he took it down to the 14-yard line to move the chains for Littlefield. Garcia picked up seven yards on first down, but on the next play, the Wildcats were flagged for a false start, backing them up to second and eight. They would not be denied, as Garcia hit Mason Jones on a screen pass, as he broke a tackle taking it into the endzone for the 12-yard score. The Wildcats ran a fake field goal as Mason Jones hot Omar Martinez in the corner of the endzone for the two-point conversion, making the score, 27-15, with 1:26 remaining in the half.
The score would stand, with the Steers in front, 27-15, going into the locker room at halftime.
The Wildcats got the ball to start the second half, but during the kick return, they were called for a face mask penalty, backing them up to first and 10 from their own 14-yard line.
On first down, Chambers took a pitch to the right up to the Littlefield 26-yard line for a fresh set of downs. Littlefield moved the chains again, as Garcia connected with Mason Jones on a screen, taking the ball up to the 41-yard line. Garcia kept it himself on back-to-back plays to move the ball into Big Spring territory for another first down.” Garcia’s pass on first down fell incomplete, looking for West, but the Steers were flagged for defensive holding, making it first and 10 from the Steers 35-yard line. Two plays later, Chambers punched in a 19-yard touchdown run and Jordan Trevino nailed the PAT to cut the lead to five points, 27-22, with 9:37 to play in the third quarter.
Big Spring answered, capping off a 10 play drive with a 37-yard screen pass from Baeza to Isaiah Holloway with 6:19 to play in the third quarter. The two point conversion was no good, making the score, 33-22.
Littlefield answered with 3:19 to play in the quarter, as Garcia hit Chambers for a two-yard touchdown pass, followed by the PAT from Jordan Trevino to cut the lead to, 33-29.
Big Spring would tack on two more scores to ice the game, taking the contest, 47-29.
The Wildcats will be at River Road to open district play next Friday.
Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m.