In the battle of the Cats and the Dogs, the Wallace-Rose Hill Bulldogs spoiled the Wildcats’ senior night with a 47-25 win.
With Wildcat head coach Jeff Byrd out with back surgery, defensive coach Steve Mallard and the rest of the coaching staff stepped in to run the game. Mallard said, “I thought we came out really well the first quarter. We played right there with them and got a couple of breaks. They have a good football team and their tempo wore us down a little in the second quarter. The third quarter got totally out of hand but we didn’t quit.
“That was the big thing. Now we just have to get ready for next week and Midway.”
Wallace got on the scoreboard at the 9:18 mark in the first quarter on a 1-yard run up the middle by Emmit Herring. Brian Pacheco kicked the point after for a 7-0 lead.
The Wildcats got the ball and were forced to punt; however, Wallace fumbled the punt return with the Wildcats recovered at the 3-yard line. Rashad Davis scored from 1 yard out with 5:24 left in the first quarter. The point after attempt failed on a high snap from center. The score was 7-6.
Wallace came right back scoring on a 49-yard pass play form Herring to D. J. Bannerman with 3:49 left in the first period. Pacheco’s kick was good and the Dogs were up 14-6.
Zaiquain Barksdale took the next kick off down to the Wallace 37-yard line. The Wildcats offense took over and Charles Chestnutt scampered 37 yards around the left side to raise the score to 14-12. The Wildcats attempted a 2-point conversion that failed leaving the score at 14-12 with 2:48 left in the first quarter.
On Wallace’s next possession, they marched down to the end zone only to loose an interception to Chestnutt in the end zone with 33 seconds left in the first.
The Wildcats turned the ball around but were unable to get going. Eli Escalara had a punt blocked with Wallace recovering on the Wildcat 10-yard line. A minute and half into the second quarter, Wallace scored on a 10-yard run by Jalen Robinson. Pacheco’s kick made it 21-12.
The Wildcats lost a fumble on their next possession and Wallace capitalized scoring on a 2-yard run by Robinson with 6:16 left in the half. The extra point made it 28-12.
Wallace scored again before the half on a 2-yard run. With the extra point kick, they took a 35-12 lead into the break.
The Wildcats had first chance in the second half but stuttered losing an interception with a 38-yard return for a touchdown. The point after make it 42-12, 1 minute into the third quarter.
With 7:38 left in the third, the Wildcats were stopped and a bad snap put the ball in the end zone for a safety and 2 more points.
The next score came on a 35-yard Pacheco field goal with 5:18 left. The score was 47-12 at that point.
Near the end of the third quarter, Chestnutt picked up a Wallace fumble. The Wildcats moved the ball down to the “red zone” before stalling and attempting a field goal which went a little wide.
Wallace got the ball on the 20-yard line and moved out to the 40-yard line where Chestnutt picked up another fumble and returned it 40-yards for a score. Escalara’s point after kick make it 47-18.
With 4:14 left in the game, Rashad Davis picked up another Wallace fumble and returned it 62 yards for a score. Escalara’s kick make it 47-25.
Time ran out with neither team threatening a run-back gain. Wallace had their younger players in for most of the second half.
Chestnutt led the Wildcat rushing with 96 yards on 13 carries, 1 rushing touchdown and fumble return for a touchdown. Davis had a 62-yard fumble recovery .
The Wildcats travel to Midway for the final regular season game next week.
Post a Comment
