Joaquin beats ME in top 10 clash

By MICHAEL SEARCY
Henderson Daily News

MOUNT ENTERPRISE - After last week's victory after the Carlisle Indians, the Mt. Enterprise Wildcats entered tonight's game with No. 6 Joaquin with a No. 10 ranking and momentum in a clash between the last two undefeated teams in District 20-A.

In the end, the Joaquin Rams would have the final say, defeating the Wildcats 30-22 here in Mt. Enterprise.

The loss is the first for the Mount Enterprise, which falls to 6-1 on the year and 1-1 in district.

The Rams rushed for 186 yards in the first half to roll up a 22-13 advantage and withstood Mt. Enterprise's second half rally by forcing three turnovers in the fourth quarter, with one coming as the Wildcats were set to score and bring the game to within two points.

Xavier Bryant, seeing more action on the offensive side of the ball due to injuries, led the Wildcats ground game with 110 yards on 17 carries.

The team as a whole rolled up 156 yards rushing.

Quarterback Larry Solomon went 8-of-14 for a total of 122 yards and a touchdown.

He also had two interceptions on the night as the Rams played lots of zone defense against the ‘Cats.

His favorite target was Blake King, who hauled in three of those passes for 68 yards and a score.

Anthony Lewis and Rusty Arreguin combined for the other 5 catches and 55 yards.

In the first quarter, the Wildcats would strike first, as Bryant took one carry and rumbled 21 yards after holding Joaquin on a fake punt attempt.

Joaquin immediately answered with a 5-play 80 yard drive to bring the score to 7-6.

Joaquin would then have its own one-play drive, as Eric Permenter raced 35 yards for the Rams, who took a 14-7 lead following the two point conversion.

The ‘Cats would close the game to a 14-13 margin as Solomon hit King for a 49 yard strike down the right sideline; however, the only time the Wildcats would get as close would be on a Bryant touchdown late in the third quarter.

“The guys played with a full effort tonight,” said Mount Enterprise coach Louie Johnson, “They (Joaquin) played a great game and we had some mistakes that hurt, they didn't cost us the game but we'll just have to regroup. Our goal here is to reach the playoffs so we'll just have to keep on with it.”

The Wildcats will get that opportunity next Friday night at when they visit Overton, which lost 48-0 to Carlisle.