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BREAKING LOOSE – Littlefield junior tailback, Ty’Jae Chambers, breaks through the defense on his way to a 69-yard touchdown run to put the Wildcats back out in front, 15-9, over River Road in the fourth quarter of Friday’s district-opener. (Staff Photo by Derek Lopez)
The Littlefield Wildcats’ varsity football team opened up district play on Friday with a huge win over the River Road Wildcats, 22-9.
With the win the Wildcats improve to 2-4 overall, 1-0 in district play.
“It’s a momentum builder,” Head Coach Brent Green said. “We have a tough road ahead of us; we got Dalhart, open week, Bushland and then we go to Muleshoe. We don’t have any easy ones. You want to start out 1-0 to get some confidence and get some momentum rolling forward.”
Littlefield got off to a rocky start offensively after they picked up a first down on a carry by tailback, Jordan Trevino. Two plays later, Trevino fumbled the ball and it was recovered by Lance Welps with 8:39 to play in the first quarter, giving River Road the ball at the Littlefield 46- yard line.
River Road opened the game with a heavy dose of the run game, but on fourth down from the Littlefield 34-yard line, Welps’ pass intended for Jerret McCormick was broke up by senior safety, Caden Longoria, giving the ball back to Littlefield with 4:07 to play in the opening quarter.
Littlefield took over at their own 34-yard line, as junior tailback, Ty’Jae Chambers, carried the ball on three straight plays, moving the ball up to the Littlefield 47-yard line. Senior slotback, Xavier Esquibel, picked up five yards on second down and on the next play, Chambers took the ball down to the River Road 36-yard line for a first down.
Senior quarterback, Blake Green’s, pass fell incomplete intended for Esquibel, but Chambers’ number was called on the next play, as he took it down to the 24-yard line for a fresh set of downs.
Four plays later, Trevino broke loose around the left side for a 12-yard touchdown run, making the score, 7-0, after the PAT by senior kicker, Chris Brown, with 11:21 to play in the first half.
The Littlefield defense forced two River Road punts, as they took a, 7-0, lead into the locker room at halftime.
Out of the break, River Road took over after the touchback by Brown, and were able to take the ball into Littlefield territory, but on fourth and six from the 38-yard line, Welps kept it himself on a run to the left side, but he was wrapped up by junior defensive end, Ethan Garcia, for a turnover on downs with 7:29 to play in the third quarter.
The Wildcats went three-and-out to end the third quarter and were set to punt from their own 26-yard line, but a bad snap by brown rolled out of the back of the endzone for a safety, making the score, 7- 2.
With a swing of momentum, River Road took over after the kick-off at their own 45-yard line and Welps called his own number taking it around the right side for a 55-yard touchdown run. The PAT by River Road was good, making the score, 7-9, with 11:32 remaining in the game. A kick return by Esquibel set
A kick return by Esquibel set the Wildcats up with first and 10 from their own 31-yard line and on first down, Chambers got the carry, breaking loose up the middle for a 69-yard touchdown run. Littlefield lined up for the two-point conversion, as Green took the snap and rolled out to his right hitting Brown in the endzone, making the score, 15-9, with 11:09 to play in the game.
The stingy Wildcat defense forced a three-and-out forcing Welps to punt the ball away with 10:11 to play in the game.
They took over at their own 19-yard line. Chambers picked up a yard on first down, but on the next play, Green connected with Jarron Cabello on the far sideline, who broke free for a huge gain into River Road territory.
With a fresh set of downs, Chambers picked up a yard on first down and Green’s pass to senior, Juan Rios, was incomplete. The Wildcats were flagged for holding on the play, backing them up to, second and 19. Trevino took a carry around
Trevino took a carry around the right side for nine yards, as the Wildcats called a time out to talk things over with 7:08 remaining. Two plays later, the Wild
Two plays later, the Wildcats lined up to go for it on fourth down, as Green took the snap and found Brown in the back of the endzone for the touchdown. The PAT by Brown was good, extending their lead to, 22-9. On River Road’s next drive,
On River Road’s next drive, Welps’ pass on fourth and long was picked off by safety, Ryan West, to ice the game for Littlefield.
“Hats off to our kids,” Coach Green said. “They did a great job of preparing, they executed the game plan, we tweaked our schemes offensively, because we went up there last year and they shut us down. One or two minor adjustments and it worked out for us.”
He added, “Defensively, lights out. We had a game plan, we executed it, and we shut them down and I couldn’t be more proud of our kids.”
The Wildcats will be on the road next week to take on Dalhart.
Kick-off is slated for 7 p.m.