Madill shuts Marietta’s lights off in Military Night game

The Wildcats met the Marietta Indians for a match on Friday, September 10 at Blake Smiley Stadium. The two teams have been playing each other since 1946, with the Wildcats holding the record 41 wins to 24 losses.

Madill has won eight straight games against the Indians. However, the teams put the records to the side on Friday to host Military and First Responder Appreciation Night. Announcer Donny Raley recognized the different branches of the Armed Forces, our Veterans, our current Military, and the thirteen soldiers killed in Afghanistan this month. Raley also recognized our world coming to a stop twenty years ago when the attack on the World Trade Centers in New York happened on September 11.

The Madill fire department showcased their new fire truck that traveled from New York to the game and displayed the American Flag. The first responders lined the southeast corner of the football field with their emergency vehicles.

To finish the presentation, the Madill football team ran out of the Wildcat tunnel holding an American Flag. The Air Force presented the Player of the Week award to Senior Kendall Robertson for demonstrating core values of integrity, excellence and service.

To begin the game, Madill was looking for another win to add to their belt, bringing them 3-0 for the 2021 season. The Indians (104 total yards; 7 turnovers) kicked off to the Wildcats, with Senior Cornelius Smith (four tackles) and Freshman Leo Martinez (two tackles) in the back field to receive the ball.

It was a loose ball after the kick, but Junior Yovanny Robles (14 receiving yards) was there to recover, making for a first and ten on the thirty-six-yard line for the Wildcats. Robertson (159 passing yards; 53 rushing yards) handed off to Sophomore Rey Gomez (29 rushing yards; 1 receiving yard) for a gain of five yards for second and five. The ball was snapped, and Robertson stepped back to complete a pass to Senior Houston Stephenson (23 receiving yards) for a first down on the forty-six-yard line in Wildcat territory.

With 10:42 to go in the first quarter, Robertson fakes the hand off to throw a forty-five-yard pass to senior Nick Northcutt (112 receiving yards) for a first and goal on the eight-yard line. The ball snapped for Robertson to hand off to junior Holden McGahey (43 rushing yards) to make second and goal on the three-yard line. The next play would

The next play would bring a touchdown for the Wildcats with Robertson’s fake hand off to run in to the end zone to make the scoreboard read 6 to 0, a four-yard touchdown with 9:07 left in the quarter. The Wildcats attempted a two-point conversion with a throw to Northcutt but was unsuccessful.

Head Coach Chad Speer said there are dangers to becoming cocky after a win.

“Always a concern on how a team handles a big win. We obviously came out flat and just thought Marietta was going to roll over,” Speers said. “Hopefully, lesson learned that we have to be ready to play four quarters and your performance the week before has no bearing the next week.”

Senior Jimena Guevara ran on the field to kick off to the Indians. The Indians offense struggled against the powerful Wildcat defense. The Indians quarterback, junior Jonathan Lohmeyer, dodged a few Wildcat defenders to throw an incomplete pass on the first snap. Lohmeyer kept the ball on the next play and attempted to run up the middle but was met by a pack of Wildcats for tackle. The Indians attempted to run up the middle again but was stopped immediately by the Wildcats defense.

Marietta was forced to punt to the Wildcats. The Wildcats offense could not get started, trying to gain yardage but continued to be stopped by the Indians. The Wildcats found themselves in fourth down for a Robles punt to Marietta putting the Indians for a first and ten at the nine-yard line.

The Indians snapped the ball and were immediately swarmed by junior River Shaw (12 tackles) and Northcutt for a loss of seven yards. Marietta were called for holding trying to run up the middle and was pushed back to the two yard line for second and eighteen.

The Indians turned the ball over to the Wildcats, but the Wildcats were unable to get into the end zone. Guevara kicked for a successful field goal. Madill led 9 to 0. Robles kicked to the Indians where Rey Gomez makes the tackle. The Indians have good field position being a first and ten on the thirty-one-yard line in their own territory.

Indians Lohmeyer threw a pass that was deflected by Robles. On the next snap for the Indians, another pass was broken up by Robles with flags flying, holding against the Indians.

It’s second and twentysix from the eighteen-yard line for Marietta. Lohmeyer thres a complete pass to his receiver, but the receiver was met by Rey Gomez for an immediate tackle. Indians quarterback, Lohmeyer, kept the ball to run up the middle but Shaw was too much to get past and Lohmeyer fumbled the ball. The Wildcats recovered the fumble, and the Indians were called for holding.

“Defensively, when you can take the ball away like we did it gives you a huge to chance to win games,” said Speer. “Yo Yo (Yovanny) continues to play extremely well for us defensively. Marietta definitely threw a curve ball coming out in the spread when they ran the flex bone since after we played them last season. I thought our kids and coaches did a great job of making adjustments after pregame.”

Madill took over the ball on the seventeen-yard line for a first and ten with three seconds to go. The Wildcats snapped the ball, Robertson handed off to Rey Gomez who ran out of bounds.

Wildcats started the second quarter with a first and ten. Robertson handed off to sophomore Caden McHatton (9 receiving yards) with 11:35 to go in the quarter. Rey Gomez gained two yards on the next snap with a pass from Robertson.

Madill called time out for discussion. The next play found the Wildcats on the twenty-one-yard line for a third and fourteen. Robertson was pressured on the next snap, threw to Shaw where flags went flying. Penalty against the Wildcats for illegal block in the back, moving Madill to third down and thirty-two to go. Robertson passed to Ste

Robertson passed to Stephenson to bring them to fourth and twenty. The Wildcats went for it but the intended receiver, Northcutt, makes an incomplete pass.

Marietta took over at the twenty-seven-yard line for a first and ten. Indians call for a quarterback keeper but was unable to gain yardage with the intensity of the Wildcat defense. Indians Lohmeyer lost three yards on the next play with an attack from the Wildcat defense. Marietta called for delay of game on next play, making it third and eighteen.

The next snap, Lohmeyer ran up the left side for a first down, stopped by Senior Ezekiel Fuentes and Rey Gomez. Marietta was called for holding and pushed back to forty-yard line in their own territory. Lohmeyer had no time to think on the next snap as he was swarmed by Shaw and Smith, but the Wildcats were penalized for illegal participation (too many players on the field) for a five-yard penalty.

Lohmeyer was rushed to throw an incomplete pass with penalty flags flying on the field. Penalty against the Wildcats for a face mask call, bringing the Indians to an automatic first down. The Indians gained no yardage on the next snap, with the Wildcats defense working together for the tackle. Sophomore Reagan Combs (38 rushing yards; 7 tackles) and junior Adan Yanez (2 tackles) makes the next stop allowing the Indians to gain only a yard for a third and nine. Lohmeyer threw a complete pass for a first down for the Indians. McGahey tackled Lohmeyer in the back field on the next snap for a loss of yard.

Lohmeyer was chased and forced to throw an incomplete pass with Northcutt on the coverage. Lohmeyer was able to make a complete pass and the receiver immediately stepped out of bounds for a first and ten. Lohmeyer threw to his receiver in the end zone, but the ball was picked off by Robles for the interception.

With 3:46 to go, the Wildcats wasted no time getting their offense back on the field but stalled getting situated and called for delay of game. Robertson kept the ball on the snap for a short gain. Northcutt received an incomplete pass from Robertson on the next play.

The Wildcats quickly found themselves in a punt situation. Robles punted the ball out of bounds on the thirty-nine-yard line. Marietta took control of the ball.

Lohmeyer got a two-yard gain but was stopped by Shawn and junior Samy Trevino. Marietta called time out. Lohmeyer lost a yard on next play being stopped by Shaw and Senior Danny Lima (2 tackles).

Lohmeyer went back for the pass, threw, and was intercepted by Rey Gomez on the fifteen-yard line for a first and ten. With 1:00 to go in the half, Robertson threw for Northcutt for a first and ten. McHatton was unable to make the catch on the next play, with 51 seconds and second and ten. Robertson found Northcutt for a complete pass in Indian territory. Robertson threw a complete pass to Stephenson. The Indians were called for personal foul to give the Wildcats an automatic first down. Robertson was unable to connect with McHatton on the next throw. Northcutt missed the throw to bring third and ten. Robertson looked to throw to Robles on the right side, but Robles was not able to catch the ball. This brings fourth and ten for the Wildcats, and they decide to go for it but first called time out. The Wildcats discuss and return to the field where Robertson found Northcutt for the twenty-seven-yard touchdown pass. Guevara’s extra point was good. The Wildcats led at halftime, 16 to 0.

“I think overall up front we did some good things and were able to get movement,” Speers said. “The backs did a good job of making plays.”

Robles kicked off to the Indians to start the second half. The ball rolled to the one-yard line as a live ball and McHatton pounced on the ball. Wildcats took over at first and goal on the six yard line. Robertson handed off to McGahey who easily walks into the end zone for a touchdown. Guevara kicked the extra point to take the Wildcats to a 23 to 0 lead with 11:53 to go in the thirst quarter.

Robles kicked to the Indians. The Indians made the catch and ran out of bounds. Lohmeyer kept the ball and was covered by Combs and Shaw to bring second and eleven from the thirty-two-yard line.

Lohmeyer kept the ball again on the next snap and was tackled for a loss by senior Tito Gomez. Lohmeyer went for a pass but was intercepted by Robles on the forty-two-yard line in Indian territory. First and ten for the Wildcats. Robertson handed off to McGahey for a gain of four yards. Robertson tossed to Robles on the next snap but was bumped out of bounds. Robertson handed off to Rey Gomez for a second and eight from the twenty-two-yard line. Robertson handed off to Rey again for a broke tackle to run into the end zone for a twenty-two-yard touchdown. Guevara’s extra point was good.

Wildcats led 30 to 0 with 9:11 left in the quarter. Robles kicked to the Indians for a first and ten on the thirty-five-yard line. Lohmeyer kept the ball but was met by sophomore Diego Navarrete for the tackle.

The Indians were called for holding for a ten-yard penalty. Lohmeyer threw an incomplete pass making it second and twenty.

Marietta was knocked out of bounds for a loss by Smith. Quarterback keeper on the next snap found Shaw for the stop. The Indians faced fourth and twelve on the thirty-three-yard line. The Indians were forced to punt to the Wildcats. With Robertson’s hand off to McGahey the Wildcats entered the thirty-nine-yard line in Indian territory for a first and ten.

Robertson tossed the ball to McHatton on the next play for six yards gained. Robertson handed off to McGahey taking the Wildcats to three and one, just inside the thirty-yard line. Robertson handed off to McGahey, but flags flew with holding against the Wildcats, forcing a first and twelve for the Wildcats.

Robertson tried to connect with Robles, but Robles could not make the catch.

The Wildcats punted to the Indians with the Wildcat defense wrapping up the receiver at the five-yard line in Wildcat territory. The Indian offense was met by Northcutt for the tackle on the nine-yard line. Lohmeyer kept the ball

Lohmeyer kept the ball but was swarmed to bring third and nine. Lohmeyer threw a pass but was intercepted by Robles and tackled at the two-yard line. Robertson threw an interception with the Indians taking possession.

Lohmeyer kept the ball but goes nowhere when Smith makes the immediate tackle for a loss of yardage. Marietta tried to pass the ball again and was immediately tackled by Robles. The Indians fumbled the ball on the next play with Madill recovering, giving the Wildcats great field advantage.

Robertson faked a hand off and made a forty-fiveyard touchdown. The extra point by Guevara was good. Wildcats increased the lead 37 to 0.

Robles kicked off to the Indians where the ball bounces out of bounds. The Indians were called for unsportsmanlike conduct. The Indians started on the twenty-yard line for a first and ten. Lohmeyer threw across the middle with Robles there to break up the pass.

Lohmeyer threw the ball where Fuentes made the interception and ran in to the end zone for a touchdown. Guevara made the extra point, increasing the Wildcats’ lead 44 to 0. Robles once again kicked off the Indians where the ball rolled to the end zone.

Lohmeyer kept the ball and tried to run but Lima made the tackle. With 1:20 left in the third quarter, Lohmeyer threw a complete pass to the forty-two-yard line. Lohmeyer kept the ball on the next play, loset the ball, but was able to recover. Lohmeyer handed off and was immediately stopped by the Wildcats bringing the quarter to a close. Then the lights went out at the stadium. The lights were out approximately ten minutes.

The fourth quarter was finally able to start with a rolling clock per the referees. The Indians threw for an incomplete pass for fourth and seven. The Indians decided to go for it, with Lohmeyer keeping the ball but was tackled for a loss.

Wildcats took over. Freshman Eli Vinson enters the game for a hand off and the referees call a dead ball foul against the Indians. The next snap by the Wildcats was ready but whistles blow for offside call against the Indians.

Madill was at first and ten at the thirty-three-yard line with 9:00 to go in the game. Vinson handed off to Combs who gained six yards for a second and fourth. Vinson once again handed off to Combs for another six yards gained. Vinson received a low snap but was able to hand off to Combs for the touchdown. Guevara’s extra point was good.

“Our discipline has to be better if we want to have a chance to bear the better teams in our district,” Speer said. “We have had too many penalties the last couple of weeks. It’s the penalties that we have direct control over such as pre nap penalties, blocks in the back, etc. They can be easy to forget about when you’re winning with big margins, but we’ve got to be more disciplined.”

Wildcats led 51 to 0. Guevara kicked off to the Indians where the ball rolls out of bounds at the seventeenyard line. Lohmeyer handed off and was tackled in the backfield by Flores.

Lohmeyer tried to hand off again but was pounced on by the Wildcat defense. Lohmeyer threw and Indian receiver was met by sophomore Blayze Adams. Lohmeyer handed off on the next play and got nowhere. The Wildcats took possession and then the clocks wound down to seal the win for the Wildcats.

Speer said the Wildcats have a bye week this week.

“I’m a fan of bye week. I think it gives us a chance to gear up for district play,” Speer said. “It’s also going to give us a chance to get some guys back from injury that are banged up right now.”

The team will host the Dickson Comets for Homecoming festivities on September 24, kickoff will be at 7:00 p.m.

“We are excited to start districts and it’s homecoming too so that was always exciting for the kids and our community,” Speer stated. “We just need to keep our focus on the game, which was the most important part of homecoming.”