On Thursday night, the Estacado Matadors took on the West Plains Wolves in hopes of continuing their undefeated streak, after coming off a 62-9 win against Levelland.
1st Quarter
After Estacado kicked off to West Plains, the Matador defense started right where they left off last Friday, forcing a fumble which was recovered by Matador Deeondric Green. The Matadors got their first drive rolling, but they ended up getting a false start penalty on 4th and 1, forcing them to punt. As the quarter rolled on, we wouldn’t see a score for two more drives, until Wolves wide receiver Kyron Wooten hauled in a 7-yard pass for a touchdown.
2nd Quarter
Estacado started off the quarter with a 1-yard rushing touchdown by Bobby Ross, which tied the score and got the Matadors back in the game. West Plains tried to counter, but the Estacado defense forced a punt, giving their offense another chance to score. When the Estacado offense was stopped and forced to punt, the punt snap was muffed, and the Wolves pounced, forcing a safety and taking back the lead. After that safety, West Plains marched down the field on the ensuing drive and scored a touchdown, which was a 6-yard pass hauled in by King Tallant. The extra point, however, would not be good. The Matadors were not going to let the Wolves be the only team partying in the endzone, as James Bozeman rushed for a 44-yard touchdown to keep it close with the Wolves. Estacado ended up getting the last score of the half, as Donivan Torrez picked off Wolves quarterback Reid Macon and return it to the house for a 55-yard pick six!
3rd Quarter
Estacado came out of the halftime break with the ball, but the West Plains defense stopped the Matadors on 4th down. With momentum off the turnover, Wolves running back Jordi Hernandez scored an 8-yard rushing touchdown. However, on the first play of the Matadors’ second drive, running back Bobby Ross exploded across the field for a 66-yard rushing touchdown. The Wolves created a chance and responded, as Reid Macon hit Kyron Wooten for a 28-yard passing touchdown, put the Wolves back in front. That would be the last score of the quarter, as West Plains ended the quarter forcing Estacado to punt.
4th Quarter
The Estacado defense came out strong to start the final quarter, stopping the Wolves on fourth down and forcing a turnover on downs. The Wolves defense matched Estacado’s defense, as the Wolves forced the Matadors to punt on fourth down. After trading punts, Matador running back Bobby Ross made good on another opportunity, and ran for a 55-yard rushing touchdown to put the Matadors ahead. West Plains responded immediately though, as Reid Macon launched the ball down field to a wide-open Kyron Wooten for a 60-yard touchdown pass. West Plains then got creative, and they pooch kicked right over the Estacado return team front line. West Plains recovered the ball and put their offense back on the field, which gave Wolves running back Jordi Hernandez another opportunity as he rushed for a 1-yard touchdown. The Estacado offense was stopped again by the Wolves defense, ultimately leading to the drive that put the Matadors’ chances of winning away, as running back Jordi Hernandez sealed the deal with a 26-yard rushing touchdown for the Wolves.
West Plains knocks Estacado from the undefeated ranks with a 51-34 win.
Estacado will try to bounce back next week as they travel to play Sweet Water, who is 4-0 on the season. West Plains will defend their home turf against a 4-0 Hereford team.
Estacado Stats
DJ Johnson Completed 5 passes on 20 attempts for 40 yards
Devoryea Boyd caught 3 passes for 24 yards
Deeondric Green caught 1 pass for 10 yards
Jacob Delgado caught 1 pass for 6 yards
Bobby Ross rushed for 169 yards on 16 touches rushing for 3 touchdowns
James Bozeman rushed for 85 yards on 5 touches rushing for one touchdown
Cedric Ross rushed for 37 yards on 3 touches
West Plains Stats
Reid Macon completed 27 passes off 36 attempts throwing for 351 yards and 3 passing touchdowns
King Tallant caught 11 passes for 85 yards
Kyron Wooten racked up 166 yards off 7 catches
Jeremiah Gutierrez caught 3 passes for 45 yards
Breland Franklin caught 3 passes for 28 yards
Jordi Hernandez rushed for 209 yards on 33 touches getting himself 3 touchdowns
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