The Littlefield Wildcats’ varsity football team picked up their first win of the season last week when they held off Denver City, 32-28, in their home-opener at Wildcat Stadium.
With the win, the Wildcats improve to 1-1 overall on the year.
The Wildcats totaled 317 yards, including 211 passing yards and 106 rushing yards.
Josiah Garcia got the Wildcats going in the opening frame, as he caught a 56-yard touchdown pass to open the scoring. The PAT by Ian Mendez was good, putting the Wildcats in front, 7-0. Denver City would answer with a 17-yard rushing touchdown to make the score, 7-7, as the first quarter came to a close.
Denver City opened the second quarter with a two-yard rushing touchdown and converted a twopoint conversion to take a, 15-7, lead. Later in the second quarter, Littlefield would respond, as Omar Martinez caught a 17-yard touchdown pass from Green. McNeese’s two-point conversion was no good, leaving the Mustangs in front, 15-13.
The Mustangs would tack on a nine-yard rushing touchdown to make the score, 21-13, after the failed PAT, going into halftime.
Littlefield bounced back in the second half, as Martinez caught a 25-yard touchdown pass and a three-yard touchdown pass from Green. Mendez split the PAT’s to put the Wildcats in front, 26-21, heading into the final quarter of play.
In the fourth quarter, Denver City punched in an eight-yard touchdown run followed by the PAT to reclaim the lead, 28-26. Later in the fourth, Martinez would catch his fourth touchdown catch of the night, on a 38-yard pass from Green to put the Wildcats in front, 32-28, after the missed PAT by Mendez. The score would stand, as Littlefield held on for their first victory of the season.
Offensively, Green finished the game 10-23 passing for 194 yards, four touchdowns and one interception, while McNeese finished one-of-one for 17 yards and one touchdown.
Green led the rushing attack for Green with 12 carries for 71 yards, while Ian Mendez chipped in three carries for 21 yards and McNeese added nine carries for 14 yards.
Martinez led the receiving attack with four catches for 83 yards and four touchdowns, while Garcia caught two balls for 68 yards and a score, and MJ Randle caught three passes for 55 yards.
Defensively, the Wildcats were led by Noah Lopez who finished with 14 tackles, one for loss, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. McNeese added 12 tackles, a fumble recovery and an interception, while Jeremiah Trevino chipped in 13 tackles and Diego Ramirez contributed 11 tackles, three for loss and a forced fumble.
MJ Randle tallied 10 tackles, including one for loss, while Brenden Bowman chipped in four tackles and a fumble recovery, and Jakob Kirkland added one tackle, one for loss and a forced fumble.
The Wildcats will host Post on Friday for Homecoming.
Kick-off is slated for 7 p.m.