The Hector Wildcat’s first game of the season against the Mayflower Eagles was full of penalties and fumbles, but the Wildcats managed to pull off a 28-26 victory.
Hector started the first quarter on the offensive side, but was unable to make a first down. Mayflower picked up the punt and held on to it long enough to fumble it on their own 37- yard line where Hector’s Nathaniel Guthrie recovered the ball. The Wildcats were further helped along by an unsportsman-like conduct call against the Eagles which pushed them back 15 yards. Soon after, Chris Miranda made a 10-yard touchdown. The PAT was no good, but the Wildcats had their first score of the game, 6-0.
Mayflower started making progress, but after the first down, they fumbled again, only to have Hector recover on the Eagles 29-yard line. After being plagued by two penalties, the combination of Wildcats Cory Small and Chad Henderson made their way to the one-yard line, where Henderson ran in the second touchdown with 4:10 still remaining on the clock. The Wildcats’ attempted, 2-point conversion was no good.
Mayflower was unable to make their first down after the kick, therefore returning it to Hector by way of a punt. The Wildcats were able to pick up a first down before the quarter ended. Hector had the early lead advantage, 12-0.
The second quarter seemed more like a track meet than a football game. Three touchdowns were made in 31 seconds, two going to Hector, the other to Mayflower.
The beginning of the quarter started with a turnover from Hector to Mayflower. A penalty on Mayflower was followed directly by another against Hector, this one for off- sides. The very next play was a fumble by Mayflower in which Hector picked up on the Mayflower 6-yard line. The Wildcats’ next play was penalized and they were pushed back five yards. Small picked up 7 yards in two carries before he finished with another to make a touchdown with 6:50 on the clock. Small also drove in the 2-point conversion, bringing up a 20-0 lead.
Wildcat Gary Halsey’s kick-off was caught by an Eagle and flown back for a touchdown, which was followed by a 2-point conversion, with 6:34 on the clock.
Mayflower then had a taste of their own medicine as they kicked off to Miranda. He returned the ball for a touchdown. Henderson made the 2-point conversion, with 6:19 remaining until the half. The score was 28-8 in the Wildcats’ favor.
The next drive was a long one in the making for Mayflower. They covered 37 yards before making their second fumble of the drive, only loosing this one to Hector. Henderson then picked up a few yards before injuring his knee and fumbling the ball back to Mayflower. The Eagles made a quick trip towards the Hector goal line; the Wildcats had two penalties called on them back to back. With only a yard to go, Mayflower was suddenly pushed back to the 4-yard line from a quarterback sack by Guthrie. It only took two plays after that for the Eagles to find their second touchdown with 25 seconds on the clock. The first half ended with Hector in the lead 28-14.
The second half began with Mayflower on the offensive. It ended in a touchdown for Mayflower, but a failed 2-point conversion.
Hector’s next move down the field was hampered with two penalties and they ended up punting. Mayflower’s return ended much the same way, but without the penalties. Hector started down the field once again and was penalized for a false start; however, they did make a first down before they fumbled it to Mayflower’s recovery on their own 32-yard line. The Eagles’ next step was a touchdown. The 2-point conversion was upset by a combined effort of Cade Watson and Zach Bartlett. The score was 28-26.
Mayflower had to do two re-kicks and Hector started back down the field, making their first down before the end of the quarter.
The fourth quarter was a conglomeration of penalties, passes and punts. Finally with 1:41 left in the game, the ball was turned over for the last time to the Wildcats. From there, the Wildcats successfully ran down the clock and claimed their first victory of the season, 28-26.
“We were better at times and worse at times than I thought we were. The techniques could have been better, but we’re getting better with experience,” said Head Coach Bryan Rust.
