By Coach Ernest Martinez
The Twentynine Palms Varsity Wildcats football team lost to Big Bear 49-27, after a three turnover first half put the visiting Cats behind 21-0 early in the second quarter. The Wildcats played much better in the second half and closed the game to within two scores, but turnovers would lead to the Cats first defeat of the season, as the team finished with six on the day. The two teams were even in total yardage as the Wildcats had 358 total yards to Big Bears’ 337, but the Bears won the turnover battle losing only two fumbles on the game. Trailing 35 – 6 the Cats scored 14 consecutive points going 90 yards in the final 40 seconds of the half to trail 35-12 at halftime. The Wildcats defense forced a key turnover on the Bears first series of the second half, and the Wildcats quickly marched 60 yards for the score. D’Shaun Barrett found Isiah Castaneda for his second receiving touchdown of the game and the score was 35-20 after a two point run by Barrett. A 56-yard pass play from Barrett to Jonathan Carson had set up the last second score of the first half. Carson led the team in total receptions with seven for 134 yards on the game.
On the next series, another Wildcats defensive stop forced the Bears to fumble for the second consecutive time and the Cats took over in the home team’s territory on the 45-yard line. However a diving interception stopped the drive and the Cats momentum in the third quarter. Hunter Tygart would run a score in from 31 yards out early in the fourth, to close the score to within 15 again, but a late score by the Bears would put the game out of reach in the final minutes of the fourth quarter. Both teams are now 4-1 on the season, and will start league play in two weeks. The Bears are no longer in the De Anza league and are not in the same division as the Wildcats. Twentynine Palms will travel to face Desert Hot Springs after a one-week bye.
Defensive leaders for the Wildcats were, K.J. Magwood- Morton with 14, Finn O’Brien with 12, Mac Miller and Bryton Williams each had 10 tackles for the game. Glenn Reeves and Casey Allen recovered the two fumbles in the second half.
Offensively D’Shawn Barret passed for 252 yards and two touchdowns, and ran for another rushing touchdown and a two-point conversion. Hunter Tygart led the team in rushing with 84 yards on 13 carries. Jonathan Carson led the team in receptions with 134 yards. Cody Landry had one catch for 15 yards.
