The Amherst Bulldogs’ varsity football team ran away with the ballgame in the fourth quarter on Friday, as they 45’ed the Wellman-Union Wildcats, 62-14, with 4:34 remaining in the fourth quarter.
With the win, the Bulldogs improve to 3-1 overall on the season.
Amherst won the coin flip and deferred to the second half. Wellman-Union took over at their own 17-yard line for their first offensive possession, but after running nearly 10:30 minutes off of the clock in the first quarter, they would turn the ball over on downs, as Tobi DePoyster was stopped short of the sticks with 1:31 remaining in the opening quarter.
Amherst wasted no time responding, as freshman, Kevin Garcia, took a run to the left side, down to the Wildcat’s 20-yard line for a first down. On the next play senior, Chris Gonzales, would connect with senior receiver, Jaime Garcia, for a 20-yard touchdown pass to put the Bulldogs on the board. Junior, Gabriel Garcia, booted the kick after through the uprights, making the score, 8-0, with 1:19 remaining in the first quarter.
The Wildcats took over at their own 14-yard line and were able to sustain an eight-play drive into the second quarter, but the Bulldog’s defense would stiffen again, as they forced another turnover on downs, as Levi DePoyster was tackled for a loss by junior, Isaac Herrera, giving Amherst the ball with 5:53 remaining in the first half.
On first down, Kevin Garcia broke off a big run starting out to his left, before cutting it back across the field, taking it all the way down to the four-yard line to set up first and goal. He would punch it in on the next play to put the Bulldogs up, 16- 0, after the kick by Gabriel Garcia with 5:04 remaining in the half.
Wellman-Union recovered the onside kick try, giving them the ball at their own 29-yard line. Levi DePoyster took it himself on first down starting to his left before breaking it back all the way across the field for a 51-yard touchdown run. The kick was good by the Wildcats, trimming the lead to, 16-8, with 4:49 remaining in the second quarter.
Amherst got the ball back with great field position at the Wildcat’s 37-yard line after the kick-off did not go 15 yards.
Kevin Garcia took the carry on first down, moving the ball down to the 14-yard line to set up first and goal. He carried it again on the next play, taking it around the left side for 11 yards. He would punch it in for a threeyard touchdown on the next play, making the score, 24-8, after the kick by Gabriel Garcia, with 3:55 left to play in the half.
Wellman-Union took over and would take the ball down inside the Amherst five-yard line, but with no timeouts, the Wildcats were stuffed three times from inside the five-yard line, as the Bulldogs goal line defense stoodtall, as the buzzer sounded for halftime, with Amherst out in front, 24-8.
Gonzales recovered the onside kick for Amherst to open the third quarter, and on the very next play, Kevin Garcia, took it 44-yard to the house down the far sideline. The kick by Gabriel Garcia was good, making the score, 32-8, with 9:47 left to play in the third quarter.
The Wildcats would not lay down quietly, as they took over on offense at their own 38-yard line. They would cap off a sixplay drive on third and 13, when Levi DePoyster ran it himself, cutting back to the left side for a 16-yard score. The one-point conversion pass was incomplete, leaving the score, 32-14.
Gonzales recovered the Wildcats’ onside kick try at their own 35-yard line, and on first down, Gonzales took the snap and started to his right, flipping it to Jaime Garcia on the reverse, who scrambled to his left, before finding Gabriel Garcia for a huge gain down the far sideline, setting up first and goal from the two-yard line. Gonzales hit Gabriel Garcia in the endzone for the two-yard score, making the score, 42-14, after the kick by Gabriel Garcia, with 7:17 left to play in the quarter.
The Bulldog defense would force another turnover on downs when Tobi DePoyster was stopped on fourth and goal with 4:52 to play in the quarter.
Amherst took over at their own seven-yard line, but the drive was derailed, after Kevin Garcia broke free for a big run, he fumbled the ball on the Wellman-Union 33-yard line and it was recovered by the Wildcats with 4:40 to play in the third quarter
Ṫhe Wildcats would take their next possession into the fourth quarter, but on fourth and goal from the 22-yard line, they were picked off by Gabriel Garcia at the six-yard line with 9:47 remaining in the game.
Amherst took over deep in their own territory, and on first down Gonzales dropped back and fired a pass down the far sideline that was caught in stride by Herrera, who sprinted down the sideline for the 74-yard touchdown. The kick by Gabriel Garcia was good, making the score, 48-14, with 9:34 remaining.
Wellman-Union had nothing going on their next drive, as they turned it over on downs near midfield, with 7:41 left to play in the game.
Amherst would answer, capping off a five-play drive, with a 16-yard touchdown run around the right side by junior, Brayan Torres, making the score, 56-14, after the kick by Gabriel Garcia with 6:23 remaining. Amherst would regain pos
Amherst would regain possession after another turnover on downs by the Wildcats, and they needed just two plays to find the endzone, as Herrera connected with junior, Juan Salas, for an 18-yard touchdown pass to put the game away, 62-14.
The Bulldogs will be at Wildorado on Friday.
Kick-off is slated for 7:30 p.m.