By Head Coach Ernest Martinez
The Twentynine Palms High School Wildcat football team jumped out to a 35-0 halftime lead, and defeated Cathedral City High School 52-7 Friday night.
Jonathan Carson got the Wildcats on the scoreboard first with a 9-yard rushing touchdown. Carson ended the game with 169 yards rushing on 13 carries.
Mac Miller added the second score of the game with a 3-yard rushing score. Miller also had an 85-yard interception return for a touchdown in the second quarter.
Isaiah Castaneda scored from 58 yards out to give the home team a 21-0 lead in the first quarter. Castaneda finished with 81 yards on six carries, and was 7-of-9 passing for 102 yards.
Brett Hope scored early in the second quarter on a 13-yard reception from Castaneda. Miller’s interception return sent the Wildcats into halftime with a 35-0 lead.
Nick Valenzuela scored on a 3-yard run early in the third, followed by Alex Burns in the fourth quarter.
Seth Williford was perfect on all seven point-after attempts, and made a 30-yard field goal in the contest.
The Wildcats’ offensive line had another outstanding game, led by Adam Mapuatuli, George Zama, Larry Martinez, Glenn Reaves, Jason Esquite, and Nathaniel Brown. The Wildcats had 511 yards of total offense on the game. The ’Cats were led on defense by Brett Hope, Jonathan Carson, Isaiah Castaneda, Nick Valenzuela, and Jeremiah Kirk. Valenzuela had nine total tackles and a tackle for a loss. Jonathan Carson had two quarterback sacks and four tackles. Brett Hope had seven total tackles including two for a loss. Jeremiah Kirk had five total tackles in an outstanding game.
The Wildcats improved to 4-2 in league, and will travel to Yucca Valley next Friday with a playoff spot on the line. The Wildcats have averaged 54 points a game in their four league victories, and have held opponents to only nine points a game during the last month.
With a victory, the Wildcats could finish in a tie for second place, or a third place finish if Banning defeats Coachella Valley. The Wildcats have won 13 consecutive Battle of the Bell games since the 2005 season. Yucca Valley is 6-3 on the season and 5-1 overall in the Desert Valley League. The Bell game always draws a very large crowd, and it suggested that all fans arrive early to see the contest.
The frosh-soph junior varsity football team won Friday, and moved their record to 5-1 on the season in league play. The frosh-soph game will begin at 4 p.m. Friday afternoon, with the varsity game to follow.
Wildcats of the Week are Isaiah Castaneda, and Jonathan Carson.
Castaneda had an outstanding game against Cathedral City, accounting for 183 yards of total offense and a 58-yard rushing touchdown. Castaneda was 7-of-9 passing for 102 yards with a passing touchdown.
Jonathan Carson rushed for 169 yards on 13 carries and a rushing touchdown. Carson had four tackles for a loss as a linebacker, including two quarterback sacks.
