The Springlake-Earth Wolverines’ varsity football team held off a late comeback from the Whitharral Panthers in their season- opener on Friday to take the victory, 56-42.
With the win, the Wolverines improve to 1-0 overall on the season.
Whitharral opened the contest with a kick by Jack Griffin to put them in front, 2-0, but The Wolverines answered, as JJ Jaramillo broke loose for a 70-yard rushing touchdown to put them in front, 8-2, after the PAT by Slade Beerwinkle. After getting the ball back, the Wolverines followed up their opening score with a 68yard rushing touchdown by Jaramillo, followed by the PAT from Beerwinkle to make the score, 16-2.
Jaramillo would find the endzone again on their next drive, this time from 50-yards out. Beerwinkle knocked the PAT through the upright to stretch the lead to, 24- 2. Whitharral would answer on their next drive, as Brent Robinson rushed for a 24-yard touchdown to trim the lead to, 24-8. But, The Wolverines offense took to the air for their next score as Beerwinkle connected with Gavin Gonzales for a sixyard touchdown pass to make the score, 30-8.
The Panthers would no go away, as Robinson connected with Nomar Gomez for a 40-yard touchdown pass to cut the lead to, 30-16, after the PAT from Griffin. The Wolverines drove down the field on their next drive, capping it off with a five-yard touchdown run by Jaramillo to push their lead back out to, 36-16.
The Panthers, though, seemed to find their offensive groove, as Griffin hit Robinson for a 15- yard touchdown through the air, slicing the lead to, 36-22. However, Springlake-Earth would close out the quarter with a 17-yard rushing touchdown by Froylan Agundiz, which was followed by the PAT from Beerwinkle to push the lead to, 30-16, as the first quarter came to a close.
Jaramillo scored the lone touchdown of the second quarter from 13-yards out to make the score, 50- 22, going into the locker room at halftime.
Out of the break, Robsinson got the second half underway with a 40-yard touchdown run followed by the PAT from Griffin, trimming the lead to, 50-30. Later in the third quarter, Griffin connected with Rayden Potter for a 26-yard touchdown pass to cut the lead to, 50-36, going into the final quarter of play.
In the final frame, Agundiz got the Wolverines back in the endzone with a 26-yard rushing touchdown, but the Panthers would answer, as Potter caught a nine- yard touchdown pass from Griffin to make the score, 56-42, but the Wolverines would prevail as time expired.
The Wolverines finished with 406 yards of total offense; 368 yards rushing and 38 yards passing.
Jaramillo led the Wolverine rushing attack with 264 yards and five touchdowns, while Agundiz added 101 yards and two scores.
Beerwinkle was one- of- six passing for six yards and a touchdown, while Jaramillo was three-for-four for 17 yards and Agundiz was one-of-one for 15 yards.
In the receiving game, Matthew Garza had two catches for 23 yards, while Tyler Tanaro had one catch for 14 yards and Gonzales had one catch for six yards and a touchdown.
Defensively, Tanaro led the team in tackles with nine, while Jaramillo notched eight tackles and Agundiz finished with six tackles. Timothy Tovar added five tackles while Beerwinkle chipped in 2.5 tackles and Gonzales finished with two tackles.
The Wolverines will be at Valley next week to take on the Patriots.
Kick-off is slated for 7:30 p.m.