Emotions ran high during the Wildcats home non-conference game against the Coalinga Horned Toads on Sept. 7, 2018. Coalinga managed to take the victory over the Wildcats with a score of 34-21. The game started off terribly for the Wildcats with a receiver fumbling the ball during kickoff and setting up the Horned Toads to score only 11 seconds in. Although this was very disheartening, Coletin Hamblin answered midway through the first quarter by successfully making his way into the end zone for Taft’s first touchdown of the night. This would tie up the game with plenty of time for both teams to score. The Horned Toads took the lead for the second time on the very last play of the first quarter, putting them up 14-7.

The second quarter consisted of both teams’ defenses making big stops and forcing the other team to punt. This cycle was broken late in the second quarter when Coletin Hamblin got the first and only Wildcat interception of the game, placing them on the 14-yard line with only 20 seconds left. This was plenty of time for Taft’s quarterback Jackson Van Roekel to find Brett Walls with a quick pass for a Wildcats’ touchdown. The Wildcats, unfortunately, missed the P.A.T. and left the field down by one, with a score of Coalinga 14, Taft 13.

The third quarter seemed a bit challenging for the Wildcats, who came to realize this right away. Coalinga scored only seconds into the third quarter with one of their receivers returning it all the way during kickoff. The Wildcats’ defense had trouble stopping their offense during the remainder of the third quarter and ended up allowing two additional touchdowns to be scored. The score at the end of the third quarter was Coalinga 34, Taft 13.

Things must have clicked for the Wildcats going into the fourth quarter because, within only 3 minutes, the Wildcats made their way into the end zone. Austin Massey is responsible for the touchdown after catching a quick pass from Taft’s quarterback, Jackson Van Roekel, finally breaking the dry streak they had faced all throughout the third quarter. This was topped off with Jordan Miranda successfully getting the two-point conversion. This ultimately led to the final score of Coalinga 34, Wildcats 21.