Through their first two games this season Shawn Layden’s Wildcat football team has found themselves on both ends of a lopsided outcome. Joseph City opened the season last week with a home field destruction of visiting Mohave Accelerated. Joseph City started slowly with just 10 first-quarter points, then opened the game up with 19 in the second. They tacked on three more scores in the third and posted just one score in the fourth period. The final score was the Wildcats 57 and the Patriots 0.
Senior quarterback Blake Palmer completed 11 of 18 passes for 181 yards with three touchdowns and a pair of interceptions. Owen Beatty was his favorite target on the night catching seven aerials for 137 yards with two touchdowns. Bannon Johnston had two grabs for 31 yards including an 18-yard touchdown reception. Jareon Miller caught one for 12 yards, and Kolh Hearn had a one-yard catch.
On the ground, Beatty accounted for 72 yards on 11 runs. Palmer carried seven times, scoring twice while gaining 28 yards. Eli James had one rush for 11 yards, and Dylan Salazar toted the ball four times gaining five yards.
Miller led the defense with 10 tackles. Hearn had 9, and Palmer and Joseph Thomas were both credited with eight tackles. Joseph City recorded 6.5 quarterback sacks with Hearn and Michael Salazar each getting to the quarterback twice. Beatty and Hearn both had a pair of interceptions. Johnston also had one pick off. Michael Salazar recovered one Patriot fumble.
While the Wildcats dominated Mohave Accelerated in their first game, they had the tables turned on them this past week suffering a 73-6 road loss to Hayden. This week Joseph City has a chance to get back on track when they travel to Ray. The Bearcats are 1-1 on the season and are coming off a 28-0 win over Valley Union last week. They dropped their opener to St. David 0-42.
