Wildcats gain almost 500 yards, win on homecoming 56-35

Sep. 18—The Palestine Wildcats offense came out swinging Friday night, gaining almost 500 yards of total offense in the 56-35 homecoming victory over the visiting Prosper Walnut Grove Wildcats.

A trio of running backs bolstered the Palestine offense, who would match last week's output with seven more touchdown runs. Elijah Walker did not receive a carry in the first half, as he had been nursing a bruised leg throughout the week, but exploded in the second half, finding the end zone three times. Ti Crawford would lead all backs with 142 yards rushing, scoring a duo of touchdowns. Jon Denman would also get past the century mark, racking up 122 yards and a score. Denman would also convert two two-point conversions on the night, both at quarterback in place of Coyt Cooper, as a "wildcat" type quarterback. A "wildcat" quarterback, in this sense, is a non-quarterback playing the position for a certain type of play, usually a run play with some type of misdirection component.

The visiting Walnut Grove Wildcats are newcomers to Texas high school football, as the school opened for operation this year. They are playing a freelance schedule this year, taking on opponents for several different classifications, even traveling to Arkansas for their first game in program history.

Walnut Grove began the contest with the first possession of the game, and moved the ball efficiently through the air, taking only a few plays to get into Palestine territory. Walnut Grove would eventually get the ball to the Palestine five yard line, where the Palestine defense would turn up the pressure on Walnut Grove quarterback Braden Butler, forcing three straight incompletions after a first down run, giving Palestine the ball on a turnover on downs.

Palestine would convert on the opportunity, driving the ball the length of the field for the games for points. On the drive, Palestine would convert on a third and eight deep in their own territory, before Reese Hargers opened the scoring with a one yard touchdown run. Cash Hernandez would go on to miss his first point after touchdown kick of the season, leaving the score 6-0 Palestine.

Palestine would find themselves up two scores early in the second quarter, with the second touchdown coming on a Denman 14 yard touchdown trot, with Denman also picking up the two-point conversion run, making the score 14-0. Walnut Grove would answer this score, when Butler found Jax Stewart for a 17 yard touchdown pass. The Walnut Grove PAT would be blocked and returned 95 yards by Palestine defensive back Dreylon Spurlock for a two-point play, but a flag for a personal foul negated the Palestine run back, whipping two-points off the board for the home town Wildcats, leaving the score 14-6 Palestine.

The second quarter would see visiting Walnut Grove climb back into contention, as Palestine gave up a free two-points after committing a safety, as a snap flew over punter Perry Coles outstretched hands and landed out of bounds. Walnut Grove would then use good field position on the free kick to drive down the field and capitalize with a touchdown, on a one yard run from running back Jake Beller. Walnut Groves PAT would be no good, tying the score at 14 all.

Both squads would add one more score in the second, Palestines coming on a 26 yards catch and run from Cooper to Cole, and Walnut Grove quarterback Butler would toss his second of the night to John Hutson, leaving the score tied at 21 all going into the half time break.

Coming out of the break, Palestine would get the boost they needed, as senior workhorse running back Walker would emerge from the sideline and go in for his first drive of the contest. Walker would start the half slow, gaining only 16 yards on his first six carries. But as the game continued, Walker would get stronger, blasting his way through the teeth of the Walnut Grove defense at all on his way to scoring a game high three touchdowns, including the final two "put away" scores in the fourth quarter.

The Palestine defense also seemed to gain strength as the night commenced, as they would allow two scores in the final 24 minutes. The hometown Wildcats would also come up with a pair of picks in the half, one coming on a Walnut Grove drive that reached all the way to the Palestine 10 yard line before J'Mauri Jackson intercepted a Butler pass in the end zone. Crawford would have the second with only four minutes remaining in regulation, sealing the victory for Palestine.

After dropping their first two contests of the year, the Palestine Wildcats have seemingly hit their stride. In the last two weeks of play, the Wildcats have outscored opponents 98 to 42. In that time, the Palestine offense has averaged 388 yards and seven touchdowns on the ground.

Also of note, sophomore quarterback Cooper had his best performance of his young varsity football career, surpassing or tying all of his game highs on all stats in the air. Cooper finished his night completing five of his six attempts for 100 yards and a touchdown. Kamri Gipson was the beneficiary of most of the yardage through the air, collecting 57 yards on three catches. Cole would snag the other two, going for 43 yards and a score.