Two local high school football teams came up empty-handed Friday night. The Yucca Valley High School Trojan football team lost its first game of the season, 41-23, to the Arabs from Coachella Valley High School. Quarterback Eli Lynch led the Trojan offense with 363 yards passing. The Trojan offense had a total of 520 yards. Defense was led by Jared Nutter and Caleb Robinson with 11 tackles between the two. Varsity record stands at 6-1 for the year and 1-1 in league.
The Yucca Valley High School junior varsity Trojan football team also lost, 58-51, to the Coachella Valley Arabs.
The Twentynine Palms High School Wildcat football team lost its first road game of the season against Rancho Mirage High School Friday night, 38-3, in a contest that was much closer than the final score. The Wildcats stayed close for three quarters, and had several opportunities to tie the game in the third.
The Rattlers took a 10-0 lead into halftime, but a blocked field goal that was nearly returned for a touchdown on the last play of the half gave the Wildcats momentum going into the second half. The ’Cats drove 60 yards on nine plays, but were turned away on fourth down and 6 at the Rattler 20-yard line on a leaping interception play. However, two plays later Michael Hendges forced a sack fumble that was recovered by junior defensive end Abraham Bell, giving the ball back to the visitors early in the third quarter.
Junior D’Shaun Barrett had several key runs, taking the second drive of the half down to the 5-yard line. Barrett found Derek Sutherland on a 9-yard pass play completing a key first down inside the 20-yard line moments earlier.
However, on third and one, a quarterback sack forced a 31-yard field goal attempt by senior Ryan Stowers. Stowers connected on the field goal to make the score 10-3 with just over three minutes left in the third.
The Rattlers’ running game finally wore down the ’Cats defense, who played extremely well the first three quarters of the game, holding Rancho Mirage to only 120 yards on the ground until the final drive of the quarter. The Rattlers marched 77 yards in six plays, using a 57-yard run by their quarterback to make the score 17-3 on the last play of the third quarter. The Rattlers would score on an interception return and two short drives in the final quarter to make the final score 38-3.
The Wildcats had six turnovers, four in the second half that would be costly errors in the road loss.
Several Wildcats had outstanding games, as senior defensive standouts Michael Clark, Gunnar Moss, and Eneliko Tuli led the team in total tackles. Eneliko Tuli had 14 tackles and a blocked field goal. Clark had 13 total tackles and a 44-yard return on the blocked field goal. Gunnar Moss had 12 tackles along with fellow defensive end Abraham Bell who had seven tackles, a quarterback sack and a fumble recovery for the game.
Offensively, Hunter Tygart led the team in rushing with 73 yards on 10 carries. Derek Sutherland and D’Shaun Barrett led the team in receptions for the contest with three each.
The Wildcats are now 1-1 in league and are in second place in the De Anza league, tied with Coachella Valley and Yucca Valley. The ’Cats will host Desert Mirage High School for Homecoming next Friday, and will then host Coachella Valley in two weeks in a key De Anza league and Division 11 contest. With the new playoff format this season, the Wildcats will be in Division 11 along with Coachella Valley. The other four De Anza league teams are in Divisions 12 and 13 for the next two seasons.
The Frosh-Soph team defeated Rancho Mirage High School 20-6, and moved to 7-0 on the season. The ’Cats will start the Homecoming contests at 3:30 p.m. followed by the varsity game at 7:00 p.m.
YUCCA VALLEY AND TWENTYNINE PALMS FOOTBALL TEAMS COME UP EMPTYHANDED
