The Twentynine Palms High School Wildcat football team won their homecoming contest against Desert Mirage 49-6, remaining in a second-place tie in the De Anza league, with a 2-1 record.
Coach Ernest Martinez said defensive standouts were Caleb Roy, Michael Clark, Sam Eggers, Eneliko Tuli, Gunnar Moss, and K.J. Magwood. Roy led all tacklers with 20, followed by Clark with 14. Tuli, Eggers, and Magwood all had eight tackles for the contest. Offensively, D’Shaun Barrett tossed two touchdown passes and rushed for 40 yards. Hunter Tygart and Isaiah Castaneda led the team in rushing. Sophomore Jonathan Carson had several long runs, along with Derek Sutherlands 25 yard run to set up a touchdown. The offensive line, led by Caleb Roy, Michael Clark, Casey Allen, Andrew Wallace, Cody Landry, Adam Mapuatuli, and Matt Councell, had outstanding games.
The home team added 14 points in the second quarter to take a 35-0 halftime lead. Sophomore Isaiah Castaneda took a sweep play 73 yards for a touchdown with 8:41 left on the quarter. Senior Ryan Stowers made his fourth of 7-point after kicks for the game, and the ’Cats led 28-0. D’Shaun Barrett would find Eneliko Tuli for their second touchdowns of the contest on the next series. On fourth and goal from the one-yard line, Barrett scrambled and found a diving Tuli for the 35-point lead.
In the final minute of the second quarter senior Hugh Carpenter led the ’Cats down to the 18-yard line. Carpenter connected with senior Derek Sutherland on a diving one-handed catch, with just 16 seconds left; however time ran out before the ’Cats were able to kick a field goal.
The Wildcats scored on their first play of the third quarter as junior running back Hunter Tygart ran off tackle for 62 yards and a touchdown. The ’Cats defense finished the scoring with Eggers 5-yard fumble return on the next series.
Defensive standouts were Caleb Roy, Michael Clark, Sam Eggers, Eneliko Tuli, Gunnar Moss, and K.J. Magwood. Roy led all tacklers with 20, followed by Clark with 14. Tuli, Eggers, and Magwood all had eight tackles for the contest.
Offensively, D’Shaun Barrett tossed two touchdown passes and rushed for 40 yards. Hunter Tygart and Isaiah Castaneda led the team in rushing. Sophomore Jonathan Carson had several long runs, along with Derek Sutherland’s 25 yard run to set up a touchdown. The offensive line, led by Caleb Roy, Michael Clark, Casey Allen, Andrew Wallace, Cody Landry, Adam Mapuatuli, and Matt Councell, had outstanding games.
The Wildcats will host Coachella Valley next Friday night, which will also be senior night for the home team. The two teams are currently tied for second in the De Anza league, and are the only two league teams in Division 11. The contest will be a key factor in the race for the playoffs, as there are four league teams competing for playoff spots. Rancho Mirage is in division 12 and Yucca Valley is in Division 13, as the league has four teams competing for playoff spots in three different divisions in the final two weeks of the season.
The Frosh-Soph team won 33-6, taking their record to 8-0 on the season.
The Yucca Valley High School Trojan football team lost to the Rancho Mirage High School Ratters, 37 to 14. Offensive standouts were Elijah Lynch with 178 yards passing and Lucas Lopez with a total of 150 yards on the night. Defensive standouts were Noah Rodriguez and EJ Featherstone. Trojans are 6-2 for the year and 1-2 in league play. Trojans will be playing at Desert Hot Springs on Friday night.
The junior varsity won, 40 to 12, against Rancho Mirage High School. They had an outstanding game on both offense and defense. The JV record stands at 5-3 for the year and 2-1 in league play.
