By Coach Ernest Martinez
The Twentynine Palms varsity Wildcats lost a hard-fought game 41-27, as Coachella Valley High School claimed the DeAnza league title with the victory.
The Wildcats jumped out to an early 7-0 lead in the contest on a 70-yard drive to start the game. Senior quarterback D’Shaun Barrett found Isaiah Castaneda on a 30-yard pass play down to the one-yard line to set up the score. After a holding penalty, Castaneda ran around the right end for a 5-yard scoring run two plays later. The two teams battled to a 7-7 tie before the home team took the lead on a long pass play in late in the second quarter, going ahead 13-7.
The ’Cats drove past the 50-yard line with just under 20 seconds left in the first half, but a long pass play was intercepted and returned to midfield with just five seconds left. Coachella Valley converted on a double pass play for a scoring touchdown as the first half ended, taking a 20-7 lead into the half.
The Wildcats responded quickly after the second-half kickoff put the home team inside its own 10-yard line. A quick 3-and-out defensive series forced a blocked punt that gave the ’Cats the football at the one-yard line. Senior Hunter Tygart ran it in from the one-yard line to bring the game within one score.
The two teams combined for five touchdowns in the final quarter and a half, with both teams scoring 21 points each in the second half.
The Wildcats continued to score as D’Shaun Barret found K.J. Magwood Morton in the end zone for a 20-touchdown pass late in the fourth. Isaiah Castaneda took a long run down to the 10-yard line, where Tygart ran it in for the final Wildcats score of the game.
Offensive leaders for the Wildcats were Barrett with 104 yards passing on 13 of 24 attempts. Castaneda and Magwood Morton combined on nine receptions for 131 yards receiving. Cezar Hueso was two of four passing for 62 yards. Hunter Tygart scored two rushing touchdowns and rushed for 38 yards.
Defensive standouts were K.J. Magwood Morton, Finn O’Brien, and Andrew Wallace. Morton and O’Brien led the team with 11 tackles each. Wallace had six tackles and a quarterback sack on the game. Jonathan Carson had an interception, and Morton had a blocked punt to set up a touchdown.
The Wildcats will now return home for the 50th annual Battle of the Bell game against Yucca Valley. The two teams are tied for third place in the De Anza league with the winner advancing to the CIF southern section playoffs. The Wildcats have won the last 12 games in the series, and have a 15-2 record since the 2000 season. The overall record for the Bell game is 31 wins for the Wildcats to 18 for Yucca Valley.
The Trojans enter the game with a 7-2 record while the Wildcats are 6-3 on the season. The Battle of the Bell has been played every season since 1968. Fans are encouraged to arrive early, as the game will draw a large crowd as the two Hi-Desert teams compete for a CIF playoff opportunity.
The Frosh-Soph game will begin at 4:00 p.m. and the varsity game will start at 7:00 p.m.
