The 29 Palms Wildcats football team ended their historic season in the semi-final round, falling to Quartz Hill 49-25 only one game away from the CIF championship round. The Cats went into the game with a 9-3 record having upset the top seed Katella of Anaheim 25-7 in the previous week, a school with an enrollment of nearly 3,000. The Cats would face another school with an enrollment of over 3,000 in Quartz Hill of the Golden League in week 13 in the semi-finals.
The Wildcats took an early first quarter lead on a 90-yard pass play from Junior D’Shaun Barrett to junior Adam Bell. Bell caught a deflected pass and ran by two defenders on a tremendous run. The point after attempt was blocked and the Cats led 6-0 early in the contest. The Wildcats forced their second three and out, and a short punt gave the home team great field position at the 33-yard line. The Wildcats would score six plays later as senior quarterback Hugh Carpenter rushed in from the three-yard line to give the Cats a 13-0 lead.
The Wildcats forced their third three and out and started their next drive at midfield, when a reverse run play, which reached the 30-yard line of Quartz Hill, was called back. The Cats were unable to convert the 20 yards in three plays and punted to the visitors to start the second quarter. With a momentum swing, Quartz Hill was able to turn the game around with two long forth down conversion plays completing a 58-yard pass play on the first to close to within 13-7, and then on forth and 22 from the 40 they completed another long pass play over a diving defender to take a 14-13 lead. Quartz Hill was able to turn the game around in the second quarter with 28 points, scoring on three long pass plays, and a Wildcats fumble in their own end zone.
Trailing 28-13 at halftime, the Cats started the third quarter with a 98-yard kickoff return by junior running back Hunter Tygart to close the score to 28-19 after the point after failed. However three plays later the visitors responded with a 65-yard run to take a 35-19 lead. Senior quarterback Hugh Carpenter led the Cats on an eight-play drive and the Cats closed to within ten points after senior Eneliko Tuli scored from 15 yards out to make the score to 35-25 early in the fourth quarter. Quartz Hill would complete a third and long screen pass on the next series, as their running back was able to run through several tackles 72 yards for a 42-25 lead. A closing score with less than two minutes left in the game made the final 49-25.
The Wildcats ended their season at home, but have a lot to be proud of, as they were only one of four teams to ever reach the semi-finals in school history. The Wildcats wish to thank the community, staff, students, parents, and school administration for all their support throughout the season. “I would like to thank the team and the entire coaching staff for all their work this season, including Coaches Jeremy Johnson, Bob Jones, Joe Estrada, and Dustin Sanchez,” stated Head Coach Ernest Martinez. “I am extremely proud of this team, and the accomplishments they achieved this season, stated Martinez. The senior class finished their two years of varsity football with a 20-5 record over the past two seasons, and were part of a team with one of the highest total team grade point averages in recent years.” The Wildcats will lose 11 seniors, but will also return 29 players from the playoff roster. The Wildcats frosh-soph team was 9-1 this season, and the future is very bright for the Wildcats football teams next season.
