2A Team of the Week: Itasca Wampus Cats
A year ago, Itasca forfeited its final four games due to injuries.
What a difference a year makes.
Itasca entered its week nine rivalry showdown against Italy right in the thick of the playoff race. However, the Wampus Cats knew a loss would eliminate them from playoff contention.
Despite being 19-point underdogs, the Wampus Cats came ready to play.
In a tie game with 5:40 to go, quarterback Braydon Daniel fired the go-ahead 10-yard touchdown pass to Dawson Mears to put Itasca up 28-21. Gage Bassett then intercepted Italy on the ensuing drive, helping Itasca hold on for a crucial victory.
“We preached to them all week ‘nothing to lose,’ and they played and practiced all week with a different edge,” Itasca head coach Matthew Fonville said. “This is a program that has been down a long time, and for them to go from where we were last year having to cancel the season to being in a position to possibly make the playoffs is absolutely incredible.”
Daniel threw for 135 yards and two scores, while Christian Enriquez was the bell cow with 19 carries for 161 yards and a touchdown. Mears led the receiving corps with three catches for 80 yards and two scores.
Defensively, linebacker Ari Britt led the way with 14 tackles. Defensive lineman Xavier Aguilar was the leader in the trenches with four tackles for loss.
Itasca is now 2-3 in District 8-2A Division I, sitting in fifth place right behind Italy, who is 2-2.
Still, if the Wampus Cats can knock off Riesel on the road this Friday, they’ll give themselves a great shot of securing their first playoff berth since 2009 with Italy set to face two of the top three teams in the district in its final two games.
Previous 2A Teams of the Week
Week One: Ganado
Week Two: Centerville
Week Three: Sanford-Fritch
Week Four: Dilley
Week Five: Trenton
Week Six: Sonora
Week Seven: Shelbyville
Week Eight: Flatonia
