The Littlefield Wildcats’ varsity football team had the “Wildcat Magic” working in the fourth quarter, as they rallied from being down 20 points at the start of the fourth quarter to take down the Post Antelopes, 21-20, at Wildcat Stadium.
With the win, the Wildcats improve to 3-0 overall on the season.
Post got the ball to begin the contest, as running back, Isaiah Crawford, carried the ball around the left side for eight yards on first down. Jamarion Reed took a carry around the right side across midfield to the Littlefield 45-yard line before he was brought down by Jeremiah Trevino.
On first and 10, Crawford broke loose for a 45-yard touchdown run down the far sideline. The twopoint conversion attempt was no good, leaving the Antelopes in front, 6-0, with 10:28 remaining in the opening quarter.
On the following kick-off, Littlefield got a big return from Mason Jones, but it was called back for a block-in the back penalty, giving them first and 10 at their own 15-yard line. The Littlefield offense struggled early on, as they went three-and-out on their first drive, punting the ball away with 9:03 remaining in the first quarter.
Defenses would reign supreme through the first quarter and a half, but the Antelopes got the ball back with 4:36 remaining in the first half, taking over at the Littlefield 47- yard line. Quarterback Will Fairbanks kept it himself on a run up the middle, picking up three yards before he was brought down by Sam Hill. On the next play, Crawford broke free up the middle for a 44-yard touchdown run. Crawford carried in the two point conversion on a jet sweep, making the score, 14-0, with just under four minutes remaining in the half.
Both teams got one more chance on offense, but the score stood, 14-0, in favor of the Antelopes heading into the locker room at halftime.
Littlefield got the ball to begin the second half, but came up empty on their first possession of the third quarter, as Ethan Garcia’s pass on fourth and eight was incomplete looking for West, as they turned the ball over on downs with 7:50 to play in the third quarter.
Two possessions later, Post had the ball, first and 10 at the Littlefield 28-yard line, as Crawford carried the ball to the left side for five yards. Fairbanks kept it himself on back-to-back plays, but was stopped short of the sticks, bringing up fourth and two. The Antelopes elected to go for it up Fairbanks kept it himself one more time, this time picking up the first down, moving it down to the 17- yard line.
On first and 10, Crawford picked up seven yards, and on the next play, Reed took a carry around the right side for a 10-yard touchdown run to make the score, 20-0, after the failed two-point conversion with 44 seconds to play in the third quarter.
The following kick-off was fielded by Omar Martinez, as he was brought down by Reed at their own 35-yard line. Ty’Jae Chambers, carried the ball on back-to-back plays to end the third quarter and set the Wildcats up with third and seven from their own 38-yard line, as they began the final quarter of play.
Garcia’s pass on third down was incomplete, looking for Jarob Cabello and on fourth down, he missed Cabello again, but Cabello was able to draw a defensive pass interference call on the Antelopes to move the sticks for the Wildcats. With a fresh set of downs at their own 48-yard line, Chambers picked up four yards on a run up the middle, but on the next play, Garcia’s pass was incomplete looking for Cabello.
Littlefield was able to draw Post offside on third down, to make it first and 10 at the Post 30-yard line. On first down, Garcia dropped back and heaved a pass to the far side of the field, connecting with West for a huge play to set up first and goal from the two-yard line. Garcia would punch it in on the next play for a two-yard touchdown and Jordan Trevino nailed the PAT, as the Wildcats trimmed the lead to, 20-7, with 10:55 remaining in the game.
A short return by Crawford on the kick-off was negated by a holding penalty on Post, backing them up to their own 23-yard line for their next offensive possession. The Littlefield defense didn’t give an inch as Crawford carried the ball on first and second down, bringing up third and 10 from the Post 23-yard line. Fairbanks kept it on a run up the middle on third down, but was stopped short of the first down marker, forcing them to punt the ball away on fourth down with 9:04 left to play.
Littlefield took over after a fair catch by Javen Jimenez at their own 41-yard line, s Chambers carried the ball up the middle for no gain on first down. Garcia looked to have West on a pass on second down, but the ball was dropped to bring up third and 10. On third down, Post was flagged for being offsides, making it third and five from the Littlefield 46-yard line.
Garcia dropped back on third down and had Jordan Trevino open, but the ball was dropped, bringing up fourth and five, as Littlefield Head Coach Jimmy Thomas took a time out with 8:13 left to play. Out of the break, Garcia’s pass intended for West was incomplete, but a defensive pass interference was called on Post, giving Littlefield a first and 10 at the Post 28-yard line.
Chambers carried the ball for no gain on first down, and Garcia pass to Cabello on the next play was broken up by Neftali Valdez, bringing up third and long. On third and 10, Garcia scrambled to his right to avoid a sack and found Mason Jones for a first down, taking I down to the 15-yard line, as Post took a time out with 7:16 remaining.
Out of the break, Chambers picked up two yards on first down and Garcia’s pass on second down for Jordan Trevino fell incomplete bringing up third and long. On the third down play, Garcia sprinted out to his left, but was brought down by Crawford for a loss of one, as Littlefield took a time out with 6:39 left to play in the game.
Out of the break, Garcia dropped back on fourth down and hit Cabello over the middle, setting up first and goal at the Post threeyard line. Garcia covered a bobbled snap on first down, but on the next play, he scrambled to his left, before cutting up the middle of the field for a nine-yard touchdown run to cut the lead to, 20-14, after the PAT by Jordan Trevino with 5:52 left to play in the game.
Crawford as stopped on the kick-return by Jimenez at his own 35-yard line. Post was able to run some time off of the clock, but they were forced to punt the ball away from their own 39-yard line with 1:59 left to play.
Littlefield would set up shop at the Post 49-yard line to start their next drive, as Garcia connected with Jordan Trevino for a big gain, down to the 24-yard line. Chambers carried the ball for a yard on first down and on the next play, Garcia hit Cabello on the fade route, as he was downed at the one-yard line. Garcia kept it himself on the next play, taking it into the endzone for the one-yard touchdown run with 39 seconds remaining.
Jordan Trevino booted the PAT through the uprights to give Littlefield their first lead of the game, 21-20.
Post took over at their own 24- yard line after the muffed kick-off was covered by Crawford.
Chambers came up with a huge sack on first down, backing the Antelopes up to second and 15 from their own 19-yard line, as they took their last time out with 32 seconds left to play. Out of the break, Fairbank’s pass was broken up by Martinez and on the following play, the Antelopes were called for a delay of game penalty, backing them up to third and 20 from their own 14-yard line. On third and long, Fairbanks
On third and long, Fairbanks was sacked again by Chambers, setting up fourth and forever from their own nine-yard line. On fourth down, Fairbanks completed a pass, but the ball carrier was brought down short of the sticks, as Wildcat Stadium erupted in cheers, as the Wildcats rallied past Post, 21-20.
The Wildcats will be on the road next Friday to take on the Idalou Wildcats.
Kick-off is slated for 7 p.m.