Wildcats working to put the pieces together.

The Yorktown Wildcat football team fell to 0-2 in the season after being defeated at home to Weimar by a deciding margin, 37-0. The purple and yellow team didn’t hesitate in putting points on the board as they scored on their first possession and with 9:50 remaining in the first period.  Unfortunately, the Wildcats didn’t have the start they had hoped for as they threw an interception in their opening series.  Weimar took advantage of this misfortune and once again crossed into the endzone, 15-0.  With a little over 2 minutes remaining in the first quarter junior, Zachary Norrell would rush for Weimar’s third touchdown, 23-0. 

At halftime the Wildcats trailed, 30-0. Yorktown’s offense needed a spark while their defense was going to have to find a way to contain the Weimar squad.  Deagan Mungia recovered a fumble near the 45-yard line with 5:25 remaining in the third quarter. A facemask call against Weimar inched the Wildcats closer but to Yorktown’s demise the ball would be fumbled and recovered by the opposing team.  Defensively, Tyler Respondek and Mungia would sack the quarterback for a big loss bringing it to fourth and 22 as time dwindled away in the third period, 37-0.

The Wildcats would get down to the 39-yard line with Mungia grinding yards on the ground.  Aidan Nunez would replace Mungia and two plays later the Wildcats would get a first down.  On the 28-yard line, Yorktown was in a third and two situation. Quarterback Jayden Rodriguez would hand off to Nunez and he would barrel through and grab another first down.  In a first and ten situation, with the ball on the 16 yard line the drive would be halted when the ball intended for an open receiver nearing the end zone and was intercepted by the Weimar defense. 

Justin Guerrero would recover a fumble on the 29-yard line giving the Wildcats a final chance at scoring.  Weimar would be penalized for being offsides.  Nunez would rush for two yards. With 1:51 remaining in the game, the Weimar defense would blow up the middle and make a tackle for a loss as the quarterback was handing off the ball.  It was third down with 8 yards to go for the first down when Brody Metting was pushed out of bounds. With 40 seconds remaining and in a fourth and 6 situation the snap would be dropped, however Metting would scoop it up and scramble for a first down. The Wildcats were on the 14-yard line and near the end zone but unfortunately would remain shut out for the game.  The final play would be a pass from Metting to receiver Aydan Joe on the left side of the field, but he was heavily covered and immediately tackled well short of the end zone, 37-0.

Coach Knostman was optimistic after the game stating, “The word is consistency.  I know I have been impatient in things and want them to get it down… my system…my everything.  I see signs of really good stuff.  We have to keep working to build that consistency. We had several good drives offensively and then kinda shot ourselves in the foot.  Weimar was tough, hard-nosed, and good competition for us.  That is what preseason is about.  Good news is we play someone our size next week that has the same numbers we do.  We will look at film and then get back to work.”   

Team Totals: 2 catches 9 attempts for 23 passing yards; 37 carries for 106 rushing yards; 129 total offensive yards.

Quarterbacks: Metting 2 completions, 5 attempts, 23 passing yards, 1 interception, 5 carries, 13 rushing yards.

Rodriguez 0 completions, 4 attempts, 1 interception, 1 carry, 1 rushing yard.

Receiving: Cameron Willis 1 catch, 18 receiving yards; Joe 1 catch, 5 receiving yards.

Rushing: Mungia 5 carries, 29 rushing yards; Olguin 1 carry, 14 rushing yards; Joe 1 carry, 5 yards; Nunez 23 carries, 41 rushing yards