The Littlefield Wildcats’ varsity football team couldn’t get it going offensively on Friday night, as they were shutout at home by the Abernathy Antelopes, 24-0, in district play.
With the loss, the Wildcats fall to 5-3 overall, 1-2 in district play.
The Wildcats totaled 205 yards of offense, including 132 rushing yards and 73 passing yards.
After a defensive battle for most of the first quarter, the Antelopes broke through late, after a pair of runs from quarterback Kaleb Harrell and Alan Macias set them up with first and goal from the nineyard line. On the next play, Harrell kept it himself, slipping through the hands of Diego Ramirez for a nine-yard touchdown run with 32 seconds remaining in the opening quarter. The PAT by Viacheslav Tymoshenko was good, putting the Antelopes on top, 7-0.
The Antelopes booted a 40-yard field goal in the second quarter on fourth and 23 to extend their lead to 10-0. The score stood going into the locker room at halftime.
Littlefield forced an Abernathy punt to open the second half, but just two plays into their first drive of the third quarter, they were derailed, as sophomore quarterback Chip Green was picked off by Rolando Martinez at the Abernathy 45-yard line. He returned it all the way back to the Littlefield 20-yard line to set the Antelopes up with great field position on offense. Harrell kept it himself on a firstdown run, taking it inside the 10yard line to set up first and goal for Abernathy, but on the next play, he was stuff for a loss making it second and goal from the seven-yard line. However, on second down, Macias took a sweep around the right side for the seven-yard touchdown to make the score, 17-0, after the PAT with 5:51 remaining in the third quarter.
After a series of punts by both teams, the Wildcats took over on offense at their own 17-yard line, but two plays into the drive, Green through a pick to Riley Rivera, who took it back 20 yards for the walk-in touchdown with 2:03 left to play in the quarter. The PAT was good, making the score, 24-0.
Neither team was able to score in the fourth quarter, as the Antelopes prevailed over the Wildcats, 24-0.
Green finished the game 10-23 passing for 73 yards and two interceptions, while adding 14 carries for 43 yards.
Mason Jones led the rushing attack with 16 carries for 94 yards, and he also caught four passes for 37 yards.
In the receiving game, Jimenez caught four balls for 28 yards and Omar Martinez caught one pass for eight yards.
Defensively, Diego Ramirez led the team in total tackles with 17, including one for loss and a sack. Aaron Chapman tallied 12 tackles, while Jeremiah Trevino chipped in eight tackles and Adrian Garcia, Javen Jimenez and Noah Lopez each finished with seven tackles. Martinez finished with two tackles, while also hauling in an interception.
The Wildcats are on the road this Friday to take on the Idalou Wildcats.
Kick-off is set for 7 p.m.