The Twentynine Palms High School Wildcat football team used a 27-point first quarter to defeat the Golden Eagles of Desert Hot Springs 62-40. Leading 27-7 after the first quarter, the Wildcats finished the game with one of the best offensive totals in the past 20 seasons. Twentynine Palms scored nine touchdowns, including five rushing and four receiving, on their way to a team-record 734 yards of total offense. The Twentynine Palms Wildcats are now 5-and-1, while Desert Hot Springs is winless, with a 0-and-6 record.
By Ernest Martinez
The Twentynine Palms High School Wildcat football team used a 27-point first quarter to defeat the Golden Eagles of Desert Hot Springs 62-40. Leading 27-7 after the first quarter, the Wildcats finished the game with one of the best offensive totals in the past 20 seasons. Twentynine Palms scored nine touchdowns, including five rushing and four receiving, on their way to a team-record 734 yards of total offense.
Hunter Tygart had 288 yards rushing on 17 carries and scored two rushing touchdowns. Junior wide receiver Isaiah Castaneda scored five touchdowns, including three receiving touchdowns and two rushing.
Senior K.J. Magwood Morton had an outstanding game, leading the team in receptions with eight catches for 135 yards. Morton made a diving catch in the left corner of the end zone to tie the game at 7 early in the first. He also set up the second touchdown with another diving catch on third down.
Senior QB D’Shuan Barrett also had an outstanding game, connecting on 15 of 20 passes for 212 yards and four passing touchdowns.
Castaneda and Tygart scored the next five touchdowns of the game, as Tygart ran 88 yards for a touchdown with only 20 seconds left in the first half, to give the team a 34-14 lead at the half. The ’Cats led 41-14 early in the third, before the host team scored 20 third quarter points on three long pass plays.
The offensive line, led by Casey Allen, Brian Thornton, Sean Sears, Finn O’Brien, Adam Mapuatuli, and Cody Landry, dominated throughout the contest. They allowed the Wildcats to rush for over 487 total yards on the game.
Defensively, two key turnovers created by D’Shaun Barrett and Cezar Hueso led to first quarter scores for the Wildcats. Tristan Carpenter and Finn O’Brien led the team in total tackles, with 16 combined for the game. Hunter Tygart and O’Brien each had quarterback sacks, and had outstanding games on defense.
The Wildcats continued to answer each score with long touchdown drives in the second half, and finally ran the clock out with a 22-point victory.
The Wildcats are now 5-1 on the season and are 1-0 in league play. The ’Cats will host Rancho Mirage Friday night for their homecoming game. The two teams have been one of the top two teams in the De Anza league over the past three seasons. Rancho Mirage won the league title last season on their way to a CIF final appearance, but fell in their league opener this season against Coachella Valley 42-24. The Wildcats finished in second place last season, but managed to go the CIF semi-finals in division 11. Both teams have moved up one division this season; the ’Cats are competing in division 10, and Rancho Mirage is in division 11, along with Coachella Valley. The rest of the league competes in division 13, but only the top three teams in league play will earn guaranteed playoff spots this season.
The Wildcats will begin homecoming with the frosh-soph game at 4:00 p.m. Friday night. The varsity contest will begin at 7:00 p.m. in a very important De Anza league game.
