By Ernest Martinez
The Twentynine Palms varsity Wildcat football team outscored the visiting Bears 21-6 in the second half en route to their first win of the 2019 season.
The Wildcats took a 13-7 lead into halftime and played outstanding defense throughout the contest, holding the Bears to just 78 yards rushing in the second half.
The power run game of Big Bear was held to only 38 plays, thanks to outstanding efforts by the Wildcats defense led by Matai Patu, Luke Emmons, Erik Stone, Justin Peters, Chris Rantzow, Jeremiah Kirk, and Chris Pacheco. Patu led the team in total tackles with 12, including two sacks and two fumble recoveries.
The linebackers for the ’Cats teamed up for 33 total tackles: Emmons made 10 tackles, while Stone and Kirk added 11 more tackles during the game.
The defensive line of Martin Rodriguez, Justin Peters, Seth Williford, and Gabe Rangel were also outstanding in the game, forcing two fumbles, and leading a goal line stand in the first quarter.
Offensively, the ’Cats had their best game of the season with 480 yards of total offense. The ’Cats rushed for 303 yards on the game, led by senior Mac Miller. Miller had 16 carries for 156 yards and scored a rushing touchdown. Miller also connected on a 24-yard pass play to junior Chris Pacheco in the second quarter to take a 13-7 lead into halftime.
Junior Alex Burns had 82 yards on 14 carries, replacing sophomore Aiden Sullivan who left the game with an injury in the first quarter.
Carson Estrada had an outstanding game at quarterback, completing 10 of 14 passes for 109 yards and two touchdowns. Estrada connected on a 16-yard pass play to Rantzow for the first score of the second half. He later completed another scoring pass to Stone for 13 yards in the fourth quarter. Estrada scrambled in from 10 yards out for the final score of the game. Miller and Estrada combined for 13 of 20 passing for 177 yards and three touchdowns on the game.
Junior Jacob Hueso had an outstanding game receiving, recording four receptions for 83 yards on the game. The offensive line led by George Zama, Johnny Pouono, Nate Brown, Micah Pollnow, and Joel Horn was outstanding in the offensive game accounting for nearly 500 total yards.
The Wildcats will travel to Hesperia next Friday to play Sultana in the final nonleague game of the season. Sultana is a Division 9 team, while the Cats are in division 12. The team will play 3 higher rated teams in the non-league schedule which will prepare the ’Cats for Desert Valley League play starting in two weeks.
