The Twentynine Palms Wildcats won their 12th consecutive contest over Yucca Valley 41-22, in the 49th annual Kiwanis Club Battle of the Bell. The Wildcats now lead the series overall with 31 wins. With the victory, the ’Cats finished in second place in the De Anza league with a 7-3 record, and earned their 10th CIF playoff appearance in the past 11 seasons.
With 8:42 to go in the first quarter, the Wildcats scored first in the Battle of the Bell game on an eight-yard run by junior quarterback D’Shaun Barrett. Barrett found junior Adam Bell for a 31-yard pass play for a touchdown early in the second quarter and a 13-0 lead.
The Wildcats’ defense played outstanding, forcing three turnovers, which led to three scores during the game. On the next defensive series, senior Derek Sutherland ran 40 yards for the Wildcats’ third score of the game and a 20-0 lead after recovering a fumble on a lateral pass play for the touchdown. Junior defensive end Abraham Bell set up the next score after he intercepted a pass at the 35-yard line. Junior Hunter Tygart ran in his first of two touchdowns on a 2-yard carry moments later. The ’Cats finished the second quarter with 26 total points as Tygart rushed for over 100 yards and his second touchdown of the game.
The Wildcats’ final touchdown of the game was a 79-yard pass play from senior Hugh Carpenter to Derek Sutherland, which gave the ’Cats a 39-0 lead with 7:42 left in the third quarter. Abraham Bell forced a safety in the end zone for the team’s final points of the game and the 41-22 victory.
Offensive leaders for the ’Cats were D’Shaun Barrett with 183 total yards, who completed 10 of 16 passing attempts, and rushed for 66 yards on the game; Hugh Carpenter was seven for nine passing, for 132 yards and a touchdown pass; Hunter Tygart rushed for 108 yards and scored two touchdowns; Derek Sutherland had 101 yards receiving and also scored two touchdowns. The entire offensive line—led by Caleb Roy, Casey Allen, Michael Clark, Andrew Wallace, Adam Mapuatuli, and Cody Landry—led the team to 450 yards of total offense.
Defensive standouts were K.J. Magwood, Michael Hendges, Michael Clark, Gunnar Moss, Eneliko Tuli , and Abraham Bell. Magwood had 13 tackles and two sacks, along with Clark and Hendges who teamed up for 22 tackles and four sacks in the game. The Wildcats’ two defensive ends—Moss and Bell—had outstanding games and had eight and five tackles each. Bell accounted for a safety and an interception. Senior Eneliko Tuli had eight tackles and a forced fumble in an outstanding game.
The Frosh-Soph Wildcats won their game against Yucca Valley 34-6, to finish the season with an outstanding 9-1 record for the year.
Twentynine Palms High School will host Jurupa Hills in the first round of the Division 11 CIF playoffs. Jurupa Hills of Fontana finished in second place in the San Andreas league, and has a 6-4 record on the season. The two teams have only one common opponent on the season, as both teams defeated Indian Springs of San Bernardino in previous contests.
