Cubs Outlast Wildcats in Homecoming Thriller
The Olney Cub football team won against Archer City with a score of 42-36 in front of a packed Homecoming crowd in Cub Stadium. This long awaited victory sheds light on the hard work that both the players and coaches have poured into this season.
“All the coaches need to be recognized for the time that they pour into our athletes, not only game planning, but also working to help them become better football players and great young men,” Olney Athletic Director and Head Football Coach Dustin Altmiller said. “Coach Keeter, Coach Hilton, Coach Flores, Coach Owen, Coach Sosa and Coach Pace sacrifice so much of their own time on a daily basis, I am honored to be able to work with them.”
Sophomore Kyle Stewart showed up and showed out on Friday Night. He had an impressive total combined 214 yards, and two touchdowns for the Cubs. Despite having an incredible game and earning offensive skill Player of the Game, Stewart gives all his credit to the O-Line.
“I couldn’t do anything without the guys up front,” Stewart said.
Quarterback Tucker Cortinez also earned offensive skill Player of the Game. He threw 240 yards, and four touchdowns for the Cubs.
“It means the world to be in the shoes that I dreamed of being in while growing up and coming to the games. It’s a feeling like no other having Olney written on the chest of the jersey I get to wear every game,” Cortinez said.
When asked if there was any player who stood out in the game, Coach Altmiller responded with, “We really had a lot of great performances Friday night. However, we did give the overall game MVP to Kanton Rodgers. Kanton finished the night with over 10 tackles, 2 forced fumbles and 1 interception on defense, as well as 2 receptions for 59 yards and 1 touchdown on offense.”
Stewart put the Cubs on the scoreboard first, taking a pass from Cortinez and racing into the end zone with 6:55 remaining in the first quarter. The extra-point attempt failed, giving Olney a 6-0 lead.
Archer City answered almost immediately with a rushing touchdown and extra point to move ahead 7-6.
A.J. Solano then returned the ball to the Wildcats’ 49-yard line, setting up another Olney scoring drive. Stewart broke free for his second touchdown, and Cortinez completed a two-point conversion to give the Cubs a 14-7 advantage.
The opening quarter ended with Archer City’s Reed Truette intercepting a Cortinez pass, but the Cubs regained control in the second quarter.
Rodgers caught a pass and carried it to the Wildcats’ 5-yard line. Jamarcus Collins finished the drive with a touchdown reception, and Camdon Cortinez kicked the extra point for a 21-7 lead with 8:38 remaining before halftime.
Archer City threatened after Tanner Deerinwater brought the ball back to the Olney 20-yard line, but Rodgers intercepted Truette at the 27.
Olney responded with another sustained drive led by Collins and Tucker Cortinez. Cortinez ran the ball into the end zone at 4:25, and the extra point extended the Cubs’ lead to 28-7.
The Wildcats refused to go away. Truette scored on the ground to narrow the gap, but Olney struck again when Cortinez launched a deep pass to Collins for another touchdown. The extra point made it 35-14 with 3:03 remaining in the half.
Archer City answered before the break. Truette connected with Alex Miller on a deep pass to the Olney 4-yard line, setting up another Wildcats touchdown and cutting the Cubs’ lead to 35-21.
The Wildcats carried that momentum out of the locker room. A passand- run play to Gage Mc-Cord produced another touchdown, and the extra point pulled Archer City within seven points at 3528.
From there, the game became a tense, back-and-forth struggle between two evenly matched teams. Both offenses produced explosive plays, while both defenses scrambled to prevent the next momentum- changing score.
Olney finally created some breathing room with 34 seconds remaining in the third quarter. Cortinez connected with Rodgers for a touchdown, and Camdon Cortinez added the extra point to put the Cubs ahead 4228.
The fourth quarter belonged largely to the defenses. Olney recovered an Archer City fumble at the Wildcats’ 27-yard line but could not turn the takeaway into points.
Archer City again closed the gap with 6:34 remaining, scoring on a running play and adding a two-point conversion to make it 42-36.
The Wildcats then appeared to gain another opening when Nicholas Bradshaw intercepted a Cortinez pass with 4:49 left. Less than two minutes later, however, Archer City mishandled a snap and fumbled. Rodgers recovered the ball for Olney with 3:39 remaining.
The Cubs’ defense protected the six-point lead through the final minutes, preventing the Wildcats from mounting one last scoring drive. Time finally expired with Archer City still stalking the Cubs, but unable to overtake them.
This homecoming game was a nail biter, and everyone was on the edge of their seats until the clock struck 0:00. Now the team has to focus on the game against Roscoe. Go Cubs!
With additional reporting by Gina Keating