By Head Coach Ernest Martinez
The Twentynine Palms varsity Wildcat football team traveled to Hesperia to take on Division 9 Sultana High School in a non-league contest Friday night.
The Wildcats stayed close until the fourth quarter, trailing only 6-0 as the final quarter began. An interception at the 10-yard line set up a short scoring drive for home team Sultana High School and a 12-0 lead early in the fourth.
The Wildcats responded three plays later with a 62-yard touchdown pass from junior quarterback Carson Estrada to junior wide receiver Josh Herne. Later the ’Cats were stopped short on fourth-and-1 near midfield, and Sultana was able to march 48 yards for a score, taking a 19-6 lead with just under 4 minutes left in the game. The Wildcats drove down to the 10-yard line but fumbled to turn the ball over late in the game. With just 45 seconds left in the contest, Sultana scored on a 59-yard run, and converted the two-point conversion. The ’Cats responded with a one play 85-yard scoring strike from Estrada to junior Chris Pacheco. The on-side kick failed and the game ended with a 27-12 loss for the Wildcats.
Offensive leaders were Estrada, Pacheco, and Herne. Herne caught two passes for 62 yards and a touchdown. Pacheco brought in three catches for 87 yards and a touchdown. Estrada was 8 of 18 for 191 yards and two touchdownss.
The defensive leaders were Matai Patu, Luke Emmons, Erik Stone, Jeremiah Kirk, and Chris Rantzow. Patu had 12 tackles a forced fumble in an outstanding effort. Emmons had eight tackles, including four for a loss, and a fumble recovery. Stone and Kirk combined for 24 total tackles with each recording six solo tackles. Rantzow had 10 total tackles, including six solos as well. Defensive tackles Justin Peters, and Gabe Rangel had four tackles each. Defensive ends Richard Sandoval and Martin Rodriguez combined for 10 tackles.
The Wildcats will have a bye next week, gaining an extra week off to prepare for the League opening contest against Banning. The Wildcats were tied with the Banning last season for second place with 5-2 records in the Desert Valley league, losing a very close game at home last season. The Broncos are currently 0-2 while the Wildcats are 1-2 overall. Banning will host Beaumont next week, and then will host the Wildcats on a Thursday night game on September 19. The frosh-soph game will be at 4 p.m. and the varsity will follow at 7 p.m.
