Report and photo by Kevin Johnson
Friday night at Yellowjacket Stadium, the Mountain View Yellowjackets lost 40-26 to the Hoxie Mustangs in their 2021 home opener.
The game was close in the first half with both teams having small leads, but it would be Hoxie‘s defense that was the deciding factor later in the game forcing five Yellowjacket turnovers.
Hoxie scored on their opening drive to take a 7-0 lead but Mountain View countered with a one-yard touchdown run from CJ Rose. The touchdown was set up on a 52-yard pass from Elijah Carlton to Dustin Irwin.
Hoxie would expand their lead to 14-6 on a three-yard touchdown run by Seth Brooks with 6:22 to go in the first quarter.
After both teams punted on their next possession Carlton scored on a three-yard touchdown run to close the Mustang lead to 14-12
After a Hoxie punt pinning Mountain View on their own 10-yard line. The Yellowjacket offense proceeded to go 90 yards on five plays scoring on a 61-yard touchdown run from Elijah Carlton to give Mountain View an 18-14 lead with 4:51 to go in the first half.
Mountain View defense forced another Mustang punt giving the Yellowjackets momentum and an opportunity to build on their lead before the half, but it was Hoxie’s defense that stepped up forcing a turnover.
Hoxie would score four plays later to take a 20-18 halftime lead.
In the second half, Hoxie capitalized on two Mountain View turnovers to take a 32-18 lead 10:28 to go in the fourth quarter.
The Yellowjackets scored on their next possession going 50 yards on nine plays scoring on a five-yard pass from Joseph Rentz to Irwin. The two-point conversion was good and Mountain View trailed 32-26 with 6:25 to play.
Hoxie added another score late in the game, and the Mustang defense sealed the victory with an interception on each of the Yellowjackets’ final two possessions to give the Mustangs the hard-fought victory.
Mountain View had 442 total yards of offense, while the Yellowjacket defense held Hoxie to 361 yards.
Carlton led the way for the Yellowjackets with 150 yards rushing on 20 carries with two rushing touchdowns, he also passed 11-20 for 165 yards. Irwin had five receptions for 97 yards and a touchdown, and Rose had 59 yards on 12 carries and a touchdown.
Carlton would also lead the defense with eight tackles, followed by Randal Rorie who had seven tackles, Drew Shelton, Landon Goins, and Trace Tinkle had six tackles each.
Mountain View falls to 1-1 on the season, while Hoxie improves to 2-0. Mountain View travels to Hector next Friday night.
