WILDCATS COME UP SHORT AGAINST ABERNATHY

The Wildcat Magic came up short during the Littlefield Wildcat’s Homecoming game on Friday, as they fell to the Abernathy Antelopes, 35-20, at Wildcat Stadium.

With the loss, the Wildcats fall to 3-2 overall on the season.

Abernathy got the ball to begin the contest, as Malachi Reyes returned the opening kick-off to their own 34-yard line. Reyes picked up three yards on a carry up the middle on first down and on the next play, Jess Hoel connected with Anthony White for a first down, taking it up to the Antelope 46- yard line.

Hoel picked up two yards on a quarterback keeper up the middle on first down and on the next play Hoel connected with Reyes for a first down, before he was brought down by junior linebacker, Javen Jimenez. Reyes picked up two yards on a first-down run, but on the next play, Hoel’s pass was dropped by Sean Rodriguez, bringing up third and eight.

Hoel hit Reyes on a swing pass for five yards to bring up fourth and three from the Littlefield 36- yard line. The Antelopes elected to go for it on fourth down, as Hoel kept it himself on the option taking it around the left side, down to the Littlefield 15-yard line. On first and 10, Hoel found Luke Houston for a 15-yard touchdown pass. The PAT was good by Hoel, making the score, 7-0, Antelopes, with just over nine minutes to play in the opening quarter.

Mason Jones picked up a few yards on the kick return, as Littlefield’s offense took the field for their first possession, starting at their own 34-yard line. Senior quarterback, Ethan Garcia, kept the ball around the right side and a flag was thrown for a facemask penalty on the Antelopes.

With a fresh set of downs at midfield, senior tailback, Ty’Jae Chambers, picked up two yards up the middle, and on the next play, Garcia connected with Mason Jones, who made his way downfield for a first down at the Abernathy 38-yard line. On first down, Chambers picked up four yards, before being brought down by Hayden Harrell.

Garcia kept it on second down, taking it through the left side for another Wildcat first down, at the 21-yard line. On first down, Garcia connected with Chambers on a quick pass, but he was stopped for no gain by Landry Miller. Chambers picked up three yards on second down, and on third and seven, Garcia dropped back and fired a pass over the middle to senior receiver, Ryan West, to set up first and goal at the four-yard line. Chambers would punch it in on the next play for the four-yard score, but the PAT by Jordan Trevino was no good, leaving the Wildcats behind, 7-6, with 5:20 remaining in the first quarter.

Abernathy took over at their own 35-yard line after the return by Reyes was stopped by Jimenez.

White took a sweep around the left side, but slipped on a cut up field for a loss of two on the play. On second down, Hoel dropped back and was looking for White, who caught the ball but was out of bounds, bringing up third and long. On third and 12, Hoel was sacked by Chambers to bring up fourth and 26 at their own 19-yard line. The Antelopes lined up to punt, but on the snap Hoel took off on a run up the middle, however, the Wildcats sniffed that out and he was stopped for a turnover on downs with 3:45 remaining in the quarter.

Littlefield took over at the Abernathy 21-yard line, as Chambers carried it on first down, taking it down to the 12-yard line. Garcia kept it himself on the next play to set up first and goal from the nine-yard line and three plays later, Garcia hit Jimenez on a screen pass for a six-yard touchdown. The two-point conversion pass from Garcia to Jimenez was good, putting the Wildcats up, 14-7, with 1:23 to play in the first quarter.

On the kick return, Jaxson Hoel was stuffed by Jeremiah Trevino and Austin Tyler, as Abernathy started their next drive at their own 19-yard line.

Hoel kept it on the option, taking it around the left side, before he was brought down by West at the Antelope 29-yard line. On first down, Hoel completed a pass to Houston for another Antelope first down, but on the next play, Abernathy was called for holding, backing them up to their own 39- yard line.

On first and 20, Hoel completed a pass to Miller, who was tackled by Daniel Garcia, as the first quarter came to a close.

Hoel picked up five yards on a quarterback scramble to open the second quarter and on third down, he connected with Houston for a big gain into Wildcat territory at the 31-yard line. On first down, Hoel picked up five yards on a run to the right before being brought down by Chambers.

Hoel’s next two passes fell incomplete, but on fourth and five, Hoel dropped back and found White on the right side for a first down, taking it down to the Littlefield 16-yard line. The Antelopes were faced with second and 10 after a throw away on first down by Hoel. Jaxson Hoel carried the ball on second down and was tackled by Jimenez for no gain.

On third and long, though, Hoel connected with Houston for a 15- yard touchdown pass. The PAT by Hoel was good, tying the game, 14-14, with 9:44 to play in the first half.

After a pair of empty possessions by both teams, the score stood, 14-14, going into the locker room at halftime.

Jordan Trevino called for a fair catch to open the second half, giving the Wildcats the ball on their own 25-yard line.

Garcia picked up five yards on a run to the right on first down and took it himself again on the next play, moving the chains for Littlefield, taking it up to their own 36-yard line. Chambers was stopped for no gain on first down and Garcia’s pass to Mason Jones fell incomplete. Garcia hit senior receiver, Jaron Cabello, on a pass to the left, but he was stopped for a gain of one yard by Jaxson Wiley.

The Wildcats lined up to punt on fourth down, as Jimenez took the snap, he reared back and fired a pass to the near sideline that was caught by West who sprinted up the sideline for a big gain, giving the Wildcats a fresh set of downs at the Abernathy 33-yard line. On the next play, Chambers broke loose around the left side for a 33- yard touchdown run to put the Wildcats back in front, 20-14, with 9:17 remaining in the third quarter.

Abernathy would get the ball back and cap off a 12-play 55-yard drive, as Hoel dropped back and found White for a 13-yard touchdown pass. Hoel converted the PAT to put the Antelopes up, 21- 20, with 5:08 remaining in the quarter.

After a turnover on downs by Littlefield, Abernathy would score again with 1:18 to play in the quarter, as Hoel kept it for a 10-yard touchdown run up the middle to extend their lead to, 28-20, after the PAT.

The Antelopes would add one more score with 7:21 to play in the fourth quarter, as Hoel completed an 18-yard touchdown pass to Houston. The PAT was good, making the score, 35-20, as the Wildcat’s Homecoming was spoiled by the Antelopes.

The Wildcats will close out the regular season on Friday when they travel to Big Spring.

Kick-off is slated for 7 p.m.