Wildcats fall on the road to Bushland, 62-26

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  • Wildcats fall on the road to Bushland, 62-26
    Wildcats fall on the road to Bushland, 62-26
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The Littlefield Wildcats’ varsity football team fell on the road to the Bushland Falcons on Friday, 62-26.

With the loss, the Wildcats fall to 3-6 overall, 0-3 in district play.

Littlefield got the ball to open the game on Friday, but a penalty on third down for illegal formation derailed their drive. On third and long, junior tailback, Javen Jimenez would take a carry up the middle and the offense would push the pile for several yards before the play was blown dead, but they were stopped short of the sticks forcing a punt with 9:32 to play in the opening quarter.

Bushland opened their first offensive possession at their own 41-yard line, as Kash Bradley ran it to the right, but was stopped for no gain by Sam Hill. Quarterback Brian Marrell kept it himself on the next play, picking up six yards before being brought down by Hill, bringing up third and four from their own 47-yard line.

On third down, Marrell connected with Ivan Soto on a screen pass to the right, as he bolted down the Falcon’s sideline for a big gain, before being brought down by senior defensive lineman, Tavion Ivery. With a fresh set of downs in Wildcat territory at the 34-yard line, Marrell dropped back and hit Bradley on the near sideline for a 34-yard touchdown with 7:55 to play in the first quarter. The PAT by Angel Ortiz was good, putting the Falcons up, 7-0.

The Littlefield offense took over at their own seven yard line for their next drive, but it stalled out, as Jimenez punted the ball away again, with just over six minutes to play in the quarter.

Bushland drove the ball down to the Littlefield 29-yard line, but on a quarterback keeper up the middle, Marrell has the ball stripped out and it was recovered by Hill at the Littlefield 23-yard line with 3:44 remaining in the first quarter.

However, the offense could get nothing going after the turnover, as they again went three-and-out, punting the ball away with 2:33 remaining in the quarter.

Bushland would take their next drive into the second quarter, and on third and two, Soto rushed for a 10-yard touchdown to put the Falcons up, 14-0, after the PAT by Ortiz, with 10:43 left to play in the first half.

Littlefield got the ball back deep in their own territory after the kickoff, but just three plays into the drive, things took a turn, as senior quarterback, Ethan Garcia, was pressured, he threw a pass towards the Littlefield sideline that was picked off by Tate Butcher, who returned it back to the Wildcats’ 14-yard line with 9:20 remaining in the second quarter.

The Falcons would punch it in for the score two plays later, as Soto rushed for a four-yard touchdown to extend their lead to, 21-0, after the PAT by Ortiz with 8:38 remaining in the first half.

Littlefield’s woes on offense continued, as they went three-and-out once more, punting the ball away from their own 17-yard line with just over six minutes to play in the half.

The Falcons continued to keep their foot on the gas as they got the ball back. On third and nine from the Littlefield 45-yard line, Marrell connected with Soto on a screen pass, as he took it down the far sideline for the 45-yard touchdown. Ortiz drilled the PAT, making the score, 28-0, with 5:13 to play in the half.

Littlefield took over at their own 25-yard line after the kick-off and was able to move the ball into Bushland territory, but on second and long, Garcia was picked off again by Butcher, however on the return, he fumbled the ball and it was recovered by the Wildcats with 2:38 remaining in the half. After the play, a personal foul was called on the Falcons, moving the ball down to the Bushland 21-yard line to set Littlefield up with first and 10.

The Wildcats did not let the opportunity to get on the board go to waste, as Garcia connected with senior tailback, Ty’Jae Chambers, on a screen pass, as he took it in for the 21-yard touchdown. The PAT by senior, Jordan Trevino, was good, trimming the lead to, 28-7, with 2:29 to play in the half.

Bushland would score back-to-back touchdowns to end the first half with the Falcons in front, 42- 7.

The Falcons got the ball to start the second half, but a high snap on third and three, was picked up by the Wildcat defense, who walked it into the endzone for the scoop-and-score touchdown. The two-point conversion try was no good, leaving the score, 42-13, with 10:06 to play in the third quarter.

Bushland would bounce back, capping off a four-play drive with a 31-yard touchdown pass from Marrell to Bradley with 8:55 remaining in the quarter. The PAT was good, extending their lead to, 49-13.

Jimenez flipped the field with a punt from his own 34-yard line, as it was downed by senior, Ryan West, at the Bushland 14-yard line, with 7:25 left to play in the quarter.

The Falcons would put together a long drive, capping it off with a five-yard touchdown run by Caden Junell to push their lead out to, 56-13, after the PAT.

Littlefield’s next drive would take the game into the fourth quarter, the Wildcats were faced with a fourth and two and were able to draw the Falcons offsides for a fresh set of downs at the Bushland five-yard line. Four plays later, Garcia would punch it in for the one-yard score to trim the lead to, 56-19, with 9:35 remaining in the contest.

Bushland would tack on another score on their next drive to extend their lead to, 62-19, but the Wildcats would not go down without a fight.

Littlefield drove down the field and Garcia scored on a one-yard quarterback keeper in the final minute of the game, as the Wildcats fell to Bushland, 62-26.

The Wildcats will close out their season on Friday with the War on 84 at home against Muleshoe.

Kick-off is slated for 7 p.m.