The Twentynine Palms Varsity Wildcats Football Team lost their 2013 opening game on the road to Xavier Prep, 25 to 12 Friday night in Palm Desert. Head Coach Ernest Martinez said, “Tonight we had a young ball club, but we saw a lot of improvement and heart in the second half, and that should boast well for the season.” Alonzo Tate led the way with five receptions for 90 yards on the night. Richard Williams also hauled in five catches for 56 yards. Michael Goodale, and Jayvon Johnson also snared their first varsity catches to start the season. Culver connected on a 10-yard touchdown strike to Alonzo Tate on the final drive of the game, to make the score 25-12. Defensively, the ‘Cats fielded a young team with only one remaining starter from last season taking the field. It was led by returning All-CIF senior lineman David Falefitu, who played well along with Alex Chavez, Jamal Devers, Dylan Martinez, A.J. Loman-Rangle, and Michael Grubbs. The ‘Cats will now regroup and play host to the Aquinas Falcons at home Friday night. Aquinas comes in with a 2-0 record having defeated Desert Hot Springs and Mary Star in the past two weeks. The Frosh-Soph game will begin at 4:00 p.m. followed by the Varsity at 7:00 p.m.
