WILDCATS FALL SHORT AGAINST FALCONS ON SENIOR NIGHT

The Littlefield Wildcats’ varsity football team fell short against Bushland on senior night on Friday, 35-24, at Wildcat Stadium.

With the loss, the Wildcats fall to 2-5 overall, 1-2 in district play.

Bushland won the toss and elected to receive to begin the contest. They took over after the kickoff at their own 30-yard line.

The Falcons were able to take the ball into Littlefield territory on their opening drive and on fourth and six, Coleman Junell connected with Leaford Calder Jr. over the middle, but he was laid out by senior linebacker, Chris Brown, who was flagged for targeting and ejected with under two minutes played in the first quarter.

Head Coach Brent Green was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct, tacking on 15 more yards to the end of the play, setting Bushland up with a first and goal at the seven-yard line.

Three plays later, the Falcons punched it into the endzone on a one-yard touchdown run by Ethan Fuentes. The PAT by Trever Markel was good, making the score, 7-0, with 9:30 to play in the opening quarter.

Littlefield took over at their own 26-yard line to begin their first offensive drive, but just three plays in, senior quarterback, Blake Green, was picked off by Calder Jr., looking for senior receiver Juan Rios, with 8:16 to play in the first quarter.

Bushland took over at their own 41-yard line, but the Wildcat defense stiffened and on fourth and eight, Junell’s pass to the endzone, intended for Jaylin Marshall was broken up by senior, Caden Longoria, for a turnover on downs with 6:31 remaining in the quarter.

Littlefield took over at their own 32-yard line and was able to pick up a first down on a run by senior slotback, Xavier Esquibel, around the left side. Junior tailback, Ty’Jae Chambers, followed it up with a run up the middle for another Wildcat first down, taking the ball down to the Falcons’ 40-yard line.

However, the drive would stall out, and on fourth and six, Green’s pass was just out of the reach of Rios, as Littlefield turned the ball over on downs, with just under three minutes remaining in the first quarter.

On second and 10 for Bushland, Fuentes carried the ball up the middle for a Falcons’ first down. Littlefield was flagged for sideline interference, making it first and goal from the seven-yard line. Junell connected with Marshall on a wide receiver screen to the left side for the seven-yard touchdown. The PAT by Markel was good, making the score, 14-0, with 2:02 to play in the quarter.

Littlefield took over at their own 31-yard line after the kick return by Esquibel. Chambers was stopped for a loss of two on first down, but on the next play Green connected with senior slotback, Joseph Salinas for a first down, moving the ball up to the 47-yard line.

Junior tailback, Jordan Trevino, carried the ball up the middle for seven yards on first down, but on the next play, Green overthrew Salinas, setting up third and three. On the third down play, Green kept it himself and picked up first-down yardage, moving the chains down to the Bushland 40-yard line. Esquibel closed out the first quarter with a first down run, taking the ball down to the 12-yard line, as they switched sides of the field for quarter number two.

Green picked up eight yards on a scramble up the middle to open the second quarter, and drew an offsides penalty on Bushland on the next play to make it second and one. Chambers and Salinas were stopped short of the sticks on back-to-back runs, setting up fourth and inches from the 2.5 yard line. The Wildcats elected to go for it, as Chambers barreled ahead for the touchdown run to get the Wildcats on the board, making the score, 14-6, after the failed PAT with 9:24 to play iun the first half.

The Falcons wasted no time getting back in the endzone, as the kick-off by senior, Tyree Jones, was returned by Kash Bradley for a touchdown. The PAT by Markel was good, making the score, 21-6, with 9:08 to play in the half.

The Wildcats would not go away, as they went back to work on the ground on their next drive. Chambers picked up four yards on first down and Esquibel added three yards on the next play to set up third and three. Chambers picked up two yards on third down, before being brought down short of the sticks by Caden Griffith, setting up fourth and one.

Green kept it himself, pushing up the middle for a first down at the Wildcats’ 34-yard line.

Esquibel picked up five yards on first down and on the next play, Green kept himself, taking it around the left side for a big chunk of yards, moving the ball down to the Bushland 37-yard line.

A combination of runs by Greeen, Salinas and Chambers led to a two-yard touchdown run by Chambers on fourth and inches with just over three minutes to play in the half.

Green was sacked on the twopoint conversion, trimming the lead to, 21-12.

The score would stand with Bushland up nine points, 21-12, going into the locker room at halftime.

Littlefield got the ball first to begin the second half, but they went three-and-out. Junior, Ethan Garcia, lined up to punt the ball away on fourth down, but he had the kick blocked by the Falcons with 10:34 remaining in the third quarter.

Bushland needed just three plays to find the endzone, as Fuentes rushed for a touchdown up the middle with 9:55 to play in the quarter. The PAT by Markel was good, making the score, 28-12

Ȧfter each team punted the ball away, Littlefield had it, first and 10 at their own 35-yard line, as Green threw a backwards pass to Trevino, who dropped the ball, but was able to fall on it to avoid the turnover, making it second and 19.

The Wildcats were bailed out of the long yardage situation on third, down as Bushland was flagged for roughing the passer, setting the Wildcats up with first and 10 near midfield. Chambers picked up five yards on back-to-back carries and on third and five, Green hit Rios for a big gain down the field, moving the ball down to the 17-yard line. Salinas carried the ball on first down for five yards and Green picked up another two yards on second down to set up third and three from the 10-yard line.

Chambers was able to pick up the first down on the next play, taking it down to the two-yard line, before Green punched it in for the two-yard score to cut the lead to, 28-18, after the failed two-point conversion with 1:23 to play in the third quarter.

Bushland took over after the kick-off at their own 39-yard line, but three plays into the drive, Jurnell was picked off by West on a deep ball, giving the Wildcats the ball with 22 seconds remaining in the quarter.

After a Wildcat time out, Littlefield was flagged for a false start, but on first and long, Green was able to regain the penalty yardage, bringing the ball out to the 13-yard line, as the quarter came to a close. The Wildcats ended up punting the ball away with 11:08 remaining in the contest, giving it back to Bushland at the Falcons 45-yard line.

The Wildcat defense forced a three-and-out, but on the very next play, Esquibel took a carry around the left side, fumbling the ball, as Ranson Johnson recovered it for the Falcons with 9:21 to play in the game.

This time the Falcons needed just four plays to find the endzone, as Fuentes scored on a one-yard touchdown run up the middle with 8:05 remaining. The PAT was good, stretching the lead to, 35-18.

Littlefield put together a 16-play drive, that was capped off with a two-yard touchdown run by Chambers to make the score, 35-24, but Bushland would run out the clock to take the victory over Littlefield.