The Joseph City Wildcats struggled in the first half, but came roaring back in the second half on their home field last Friday night to take down the visiting Mayer Wildcats 49-32.

Joseph City trailed by a touchdown after the first period, then continued to trail 26-14 at the half. The home squad was able to trim that deficit to 26-21 by the close of the third period. In the fourth the hometown Cats got things rolling. They piled up 28 points in the final quarter alone to secure their third win of the season.

Trailing by the two scores, Hayden Hendricks got the Cats on the board with 5:25 left in the first on a 65-yard scoring run. Matt Fields scored Joseph City’s only other first half touchdown on an impressive 91-yard run, then tacked on the two-point conversion run, making the score 26-14 at the half.

Fields then returned the opening second half kickoff 85 yards for a score and Bryndon Buckley added the point after kick, bringing Joseph City closer at 26-21. Early in the fourth Fields again found pay dirt, this time on a five-yard run, giving the Wildcats their first lead of the game with Buckley’s PAT. Hendricks then connected with Fields on a 31-yard scoring strike, extending the lead to 35-26. Following a Mayer score Hendricks and Fields each found the end zone one final time, making the final score 48-32.

“We started out slow in the first half. I am really proud of the way the kids came back in the second half. Matt Fields had an amazing game. Our line really took charge of things in the second half,” said Coach Eldon Larsen.

Fields had a huge night on the ground, piling up 211 yards on just 13 attempts and finding the end zone three times. He also caught four balls for 55 total yards and had a receiving touchdown.

Hendricks completed five of 14 aerials for 56 yards with the one scoring toss to Fields. Buckley completed his only pass for eight yards. Koby Smith caught two passes for a total of nine yards.

Hendricks also ran 11 times, picking up another 88 yards, and scored twice. Troy Poudrier carried 16 times, picking up 54 yards.

Smith led the way on defense, finishing with 11 tackles. Sam Johnstun had nine, Fields had 7.5 and Aaron Johnstun had seven.

The Wildcats, now 3-2, will travel to Fredonia on Saturday, Sept. 26, for a 1 p.m. kickoff against the Lynx, who come into the game at 1-2 on the season, including a 64-12 loss to Mogollon last Friday.