Wildcats open football season with a win

The Wildcats traveled to Tishomingo on Friday, August 27, for their season opener against the Indians. Madill got a good start when Junior Yovanny Robles returned the punt for a first down. Senior Quarterback, Kendall Robertson, handed off to Junior Holden McGahey for a loss of three yards.

The Wildcats rebounded when Robertson passed to Junior Stephen Sisco for a gain of eight yards, bringing it to third and four. Robertson would again hand off to McGahey for a first down, gaining another eight yards.

Robertson faked the hand off and ran the ball to the thirty-eight-yard line in Indian territory. Robertson handed off to McGahey for a gain of six yards. Robertson passed to Sophomore Caden McHatton for third and one. Robertson passed to Senior Nick Northcutt, but the pass was incomplete. Robertson would again hand off to McGahey for a first down at the twenty-four-yard line.

Robertson faked the hand off and ran for a yard gain. Robertson handed off to McGahey for an eleven-yard gain. Robertson threw to McHatton for the catch taking the Wildcats to second and goal.

Tishomingo received two offside penalties back-to-back.

Robertson handed off to McGahey for a one-yard run touchdown. Senior Jimena Guevara ran on the field to kick the extra point, but the snap was fumbledd with Robertson recovering. Head Coach Chad Speer said accuracy comes with time and experience.

“Jimena just started kicking this summer. I know she’ll keep working to get better.”

Robertson tried to throw in to end zone, but the threw was deflected. With 7:05 left in the first quarter, Madill led 6 to 0.

Robles kicked off to Tishomingo and stopped the Indians at the thirty-nine-yard line. The Indians threw an interception to Northcutt who returned for a touchdown. Guevara kick was good, the Wildcats led 13 to 0. Robles kicked off to the Indians. The football was loose on the ground, but the Indians recovered. The Indians fumbledd and the Wildcats took advantage with the recovery at the twenty-five-yard line in Robertson threw to Sisco for a gain of eight yards. Robertson threw an incomplete pass to McHatton. Robertson handed off to McGahey for a first down. Robertson faked hand off and ran to the eleven-yard line.

The Wildcats had a bad snap, but Robertson was able to recover the ball. Robertson threw a first and goal to McHatton. With 3:44 left in the first quarter, a time out was called. Madill regrouped for a Robertson to McGahey touchdown. Guevara kick was no good, Wildcats led 19 to 0.

Robles kicked off to the Indians with Senior Cornelius Smith making the tackle for the Wildcats. Tishomingo handed off the ball, but Sophomore Rey Gomez and Northcutt were both there for the stop. Tishomingo tried to hand off again for a run but stopped by Smith and Sophomore Reagan Combs. Tishomingo would once again try to hand off only to be tackled by Senior Cory Merchant. The Indians tried again with a hand off, but Junior River Shaw got the tackle.

The Indians would fumble the ball and Combs would recover for Madill. Wildcats took over at the twenty-one-yard line in Indian territory. Robertson’s throw was intercepted by the Indians, ending the first quarter with Madill leading 19 to 0.

The Indians started the second quarter on the forty-six-yard line in Wildcats territory. Junior Adan Yanez made the stop for the Wildcats. With 11:30 to go, Sophomore Yahir Padron sacked the Indian quarterback with the help of McGahey.

The Indians would kick off to the Wildcats, with Smith making the catch but with flags on the ground. Madill called for holding penalty. Robertson handed off to McGahey for a mid-field run. Robertson threw to Northcutt was incomplete to made second and ten.

Robertson handed off to Combs for two yards gained. Robertson threw to Sisco for a seventeen-yard gain. Robertson’s threw to Freshman Uziel Flores was incomplete with pass interference called on Tishomingo. The Wildcats receive automatic first down.

Robertson handed off to Combs with a gain of three yards to bring two and six. Robertson handed off to McGahey for a gain, but personal foul called with fifteen-yard penalty against the Wildcats. Robertson’s throw to Flores was incomplete bringing third down. There was a false start call against Madill resulting in a loss of five yards. Robertson threw to Robles to hit the twenty-yard line in Tishomingo territory. Robertson lobs a threw to Robles for a touchdown. Guevara extra point was no good with Tishomingo called for offsides.

Guevara re-kicked the extra point to bring the score to 26 to 0, Wildcats leading. Speer attributed the good plays to what the team learned in practice.

“We wanted to focus on doing our job up front,” Speer said. “Focusing on our technique. Blocking who we were supposed to block.”

Robles punted to the Indians with Senior Jorge Martinez on the stop. Tishomingo quarterback kept the ball, but Sophomore Diego Navarrete was there for the tackle. The Indians try to run up the middle but Senior Tito Gomez made the stop.

With 5:09 left before halftime, Tishomingo punted to Madill with Sisco covering the ball. Robertson handed off to Gomez for a nine-yard gain inside Indian territory. Robertson kept the ball on the fake hand off for a first and ten. Robertson handed off to Gomez for a first and ten on the twenty-yard line.

Robertson handed off to Gomez to run up the middle for a gain of a couple of yards. Robertson threw to Robles for another Wildcat touchdown, making the score 32 to 0.

Guevara’s extra point was good. Wildcats now led 33 to 0. Robles kicked off to the Indians, with McGahey for the tackle. With 2:42 to go, the Indians fumbled with the Wildcats recovering the ball. Robertson handed off to Gomez for the touchdown and Guevara’s extra point was good. Wildcats led 39 to 0 going into halftime.

“We thought we got some good work in the first half with our starters,” said Speer.

To start the third quarter, the Indians were stopped by Merchant. The Indians tried again but Sophomore TyRon Glover was there for the tackle.

McHatton got the next tackle to force the Indians to punt. Smith made the catch for Madill but was tackled immediately. With a new quarterback for the Wildcats, Freshman Eli Vinson, he handed off to Gomez and drew a holding penalty against the Wildcats. Speer said he switched up a few players for a good reason.

“We changed quarterbacks to get some guys some reps in the second half,” Speer said.

Vinson handed off to Gomez again to run up the middle for a gain of ten yards. Vinson threw to Flores for an incomplete pass. Sisco punted for Madill where the Indians step out of bounds at the thirty-five-yard line.

The Indians were stopped immediately on the next snap by Smith and Combs for no yards gained. Madill Freshman Leo Martinez made the next tackle. The Indians then made a complete pass inside the twenty-one-yard line to bring first and ten. An Indian quarterback keeper took Tishomingo to first and goal.

Junior Samy Trevino made a tackle for the Wildcats taking the Indians to second and goal. Tishomingo called a time out, regrouped, came back and scored on the Wildcats. The Indians went for a two point conversion and succeeded. Madill led 39 to 8 with 3:54 to go in the quarter. Vinson handed off to Combs where Combs broke several tackles to get the first and ten. Vinson’s pass to Flores was no good.

Vinson handed off to Combs for a loss of yardage. Vinson kept the ball and ran up the middle to gain four yards. Vinson dropped the snap, recovered, then ran the balls. Madill was penalized for having too many players on the field. Tishomingo took control of the ball but was stopped by Freshman Jayden McCain with under a minute to play. The Indians got one more play, but McHatton and Tito Gomez made the tackle.

Tishomingo started the fourth quarter with the ball, but Trevino was there to make a stop. Tishomingo’s quarterback kept the ball and ran in to Wildcat territory to the thirsty six-yard line for a first and ten. Padron made the tackle on the next play, forcing second down and eight. The Indians tried to run the ball but Sophomore Zeke Rodriguez made the tackle. Tishomingo handed off the ball but Vinson made the tackle for a loss of yardage.

The Indians threw the ball and it’s intercepted by the Wildcats. Vinson handed off to Sophomore Blayze Adams for a loss on the play. Vinson kept the ball for a gain for five yards, bringing third and nine. Vinson handed off to McCain for fourth and eleven.

Sisco punted to the Indians, where they fumbled but the Indians were able to recover. Indians tried to run the ball but were stopped by Smith and Padron.

“Defensively had a lot of guys play hard and fast. Invisibly creating the turnovers were great,” said Speer.

The next play for the Indians was an incomplete pass forcing the Indians to punt. Wildcat Smith caught the punt on the twenty-nine-yard line. The Wildcats had a high snap, but Vinson was able to recover the ball.

Vinson handed off to Leo Martinez for a first and ten. Vinson kept the ball and ran up the middle for a 6-yard gain. Vinson handed off to Leo Martinez for a fifty-three-yard run. Vinson ran the ball in to the end zone for the touchdown. Guevara’s extra point was good.

With 1:56 left in the game, the Wildcats led 46 to 8. Robles kicked off to the Indians. Smith made the tackle. The Indians attempted to run the ball but was met by Sophomore Josh Mann. Tishomingo quarterback was then stopped by Zeke Rodriguez and Freshman Joel Gonzalez. Tishomingo fumbled on the last play of the night. The Wildcats sealed a win of 46 to 8. “I am really pleased with our guys offensively,” said Speer.

Madill travels to Durant on Friday, September 3, to take on the 5A Lions. “Big challenge this week versus Durant being a 5A school,” said Speer. “We will need to be sound against the flex bone. Tackle well. Offensively, we will need to make plays.”