By Ernest Martinez
Head Coach, Twentynine Palms High Scholl Football
The Twentynine Palms High School Wildcats clinched a CIF Southern Section playoff game with a 34-12 victory over Yucca Valley Friday night. Playing in the 50th annual Battle of the Bell, the Wildcats fell behind 6-0 early, and then scored 34 unanswered points en route to a dominating 34-12 victory. With the win, the Wildcats won their 13th consecutive game in the series, dating back to the 2005 contest.
D’Shaun Barrett led the team in total yardage, passing for 259 yards, with 10 completions of 17 passing attempts. Senior running back Hunter Tygart rushed for 92 yards and scored three rushing touchdowns. K.J. Magwood-Morton had an outstanding game with a 21-yard touchdown catch and a 57-yard reception. Jonathan Carson caught three passes for 50 yards, including a key diving reception which set up the go ahead score early in the second quarter. Isaiah Castaneda had two receptions for 60 yards and set up a third touchdown on a 35-yard pass play.
Defensively, the Wildcats held the Trojans to only 73 yards rushing, and held the visitors to their lowest point total of the season. Defensive standouts were Hunter Tygart, who had a 50-yard interception return and six total tackles. K.J. Magwood-Morton led the team in total tackles with 10 tackles. Finn O’Brien and Andrew Wallace had outstanding games as they combined for 20 tackles, two sacks, and two tackles for a loss. Cezar Hueso had an interception and a fumble recovery, and Nick Valenzuela had a forced fumble and two tackles in the game.
WILDCATS MOVE ON TO CIF PLAYOFFS
With the victory, the ’Cats secured their 15th playoff appearance since the 2001 season. The Wildcats will travel to Apple Valley to compete against the number-one ranked team in division 10. The Wildcats are the only De Anza league team to compete in the Division 10 playoff bracket, as Coachella Valley and Rancho Mirage will be in the Division 11 bracket this season. This will be the second time in two seasons that the Wildcats have traveled to take on the number one seed. Last season, they traveled to Katella High School and defeated the number-one seed to advance into the CIF semi-finals.
Apple Valley is 10-0, having won the Mojave River league, and defeated Hesperia 42-7 last Friday to go 5-0 in league play. Both teams average 400 yards per game on offense and Apple Valley averages 42 points per game to the Wildcats’ 36 points per game. The game time is scheduled for 7 p.m. Friday night at Apple Valley High School, a facility the ’Cats have played in several times, as it is the same stadium hosted by Granite Hills High School. Granite Hills is the only common opponent between the two teams, as Twentynine Palms defeated the Cougars 55-13 in week 1, while Apple Valley won their contest 60-7 in week 2.
