Wildcats Win Homecoming 68 -7
The 29 Palms Wildcats started the homecoming fireworks show well before the
scheduled halftime festivities, as the cats rolled up 48 first half points
against the
visiting Titans of Notre Dame Riverside. Senior flanker, Antonio Oquendo got
the show started with a 93 yard Kick off return to open the first of many Wildcat
highlights throughout the evening. After a tough defensive stand, the Cats marched
56 yards down the field deep into Titan territory. Oquendo once again set things
up with a nice 40 yard reverse play. Sophomore tailback Jerry Moscato would finish
off the drive with a 4 yard diving score to give the Cats a quick 14 - 0 lead.
Moments later Oquendo would set off more fireworks with a dazzling 65 yard punt
return. Peter Babuata would make his third P.A.T. in a row to give the team a
21-0 lead with 7:02 left in the first quarter. Two minutes later Junior linebacker
Lance Bednorski would fall on an endzone fumble created by Senior defensive lineman
Jesse Velasquez to give the cats a commanding 28 -0 lead. Bednorski would get
his second touchdown moments later as Wildcat Qb T.J. Stanford completed a 6
yard slant pass to make the score 35 -0 with 9:36 to go in the second quarter.
After a 40 yard march by the Titans deep in Wildcat Territory, Senior defensive
tackle Ryan Tenney came to the rescue. On a 32 yard field goal attempt by the
Titans, Antonio Oquendo dove through the line to block the attempt. A hustling
Tenney quickly retrieved the ball and raced down the home sidelines for a career
first 85 yard Touchdown score. On the following Kick off, another crushing tackle
by Velasquez forced a Titan turnover deep in their own territory. T.J Stanford
finished off the short drive with a 1 yard sneak with 48 seconds left in the
1st half. In the second half Senior defensive corner back Troy Compton capped
off his first interception of the season with an nifty 40 yard run to add to
the huge Wildcat lead. Seniors Bernie Ayon and Mike Usher would end the wildcat
scoring with 5 yard scoring runs by each player. Defensive linemen Dean Endsley,
Michael Kozell, and Jesse Velasquez kept the crowd excited with nifty offensive
runs in the second half. Sophomore Linebacker Kyle Candalaria played an excellent
game, leading the team in tackles and picking off an errant Titan pass. Candalaria
played a huge role with his booming kick-offs to keep the Titans pinned all night.
The Wildcats are now 2 -1 in De Anza league play, with only Beaumont and Big
Bear in front of the eight team league with 3 - 0 records.
Coaches Comments: I am proud of the intensity we brought to the game tonight.
Several leaders stepped up tonight and made huge contributions. We need to maintain
our focus this week in practice, and bring the same intensity with us for the
big matchup against the first place Bears.