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JUKING THE DEFENSE – Littlefield JV running back, Zane Champion (20), side steps a Denver City defender on his way to a solid pick-up for the Wildcats, during their, 20-14, victory over the Mustangs on Thursday at Wildcat Stadium in Littlefield. (Staff Photo by Derek Lopez)
The Littlefield Wildcats’ JV football team took down the Denver City Mustangs, 20-14, on Thursday afternoon to advance to 2-0 overall on the season.
With 8:41 to go in the first quarter, Littlefield put the ball on the turf and it was recovered by the Denver City defense. The Mustangs would march the ball into the red zone, but on fourth and goal, the Wildcats would come up with a huge defense stand to force a turnover on downs with 4:35 remaining in the quarter.
The game would remain scoreless heading into quarter number two, but it would not stay that way for long.
Zane Champion punched in a three-yard touchdown run with seven minutes left to play in the first half and the PAT by Nate Castaneda was good, making the score, 7-0, in favor of the Wildcats.
Later in the second quarter, the Wildcats would find the end zone again, as Castaneda connected with Aaron Chapman for a 20-yard touchdown pass with 1:23 to play in the half. The PAT was good, putting the Wildcats up, 14-0, going into the locker room at halftime.
Late in the third quarter, the Mustangs were threatening again, but the Wildcats, on fourth and goal, stuffed the Denver City running back, forcing a turnover on downs with 1:23 to play in the quarter. The Wildcat lead would stand going into the final quarter of play.
Littlefield punted the ball away to begin the fourth quarter, but on the very next play, the Mustangs were picked off by Chapman, who returned the ball across midfield to the Mustang’s 36-yard line with 9:44 left to play in the game. Two plays later, Castaneda would break loose up the middle setting up first and goal for the Wildcats.
Jerrius Ybarra would punch it in for a two-yard score with 7:51 remaining in the game. The PAT was no good, leaving the score, 20-0.
Denver City would not lay down, as they scored on a 25-yard touchdown pass with 4:20 left to play in the game. The PAT was good, trimming the lead to, 20-7.
Littlefield’s offense returned to the field and on third and long, Castaneda connected with Brayden Redman for the long third-down conversion to give the Wildcats a fresh set of downs with 3:17 remaining. With 2:03 left to play, Castaneda dropped back and dropped off a screen pass to Champion who picked up solid yards, but was stopped short of the sticks bringing up a fourth and short situation, as Denver City took a time out with 1:51 remaining.
Out of the break, Littlefield lined up to go for it, but they were stopped on fourth and one for a turnover on downs, giving the Mustangs the ball back with 1:45 showing on the clock. A long run by the Mustangs set up a Denver City touchdown run on the next play with 1:02 left to play. The PAT was good, cutting the lead to, 20-14.
Denver City lined up for the onside kick and was able to recover it with 1:01 left to play in the game. Denver City took a time out with 43 seconds to play and on fourth down, the Littlefield defense broke up a pass to force a turnover on downs with just six seconds to play in the game. Castaneda and the offense took the field for one more play, as they took a knee to kill the clock, as the Wildcats prevailed, 20-14.
The Wildcats will be at home next Thursday to take on Post at 5 p.m.