By Raymundo Frasquillo
WINKLEMAN – Duncan, competing in 1A South Region, returned from Winkelman with a season-opening 38-8 loss to the East Region Hayden Lobos on Aug. 18. The Wildkats averaged a 38-20 (150-78) score per game in the previous four pairings.
Photo By Raymundo Frasquillo: Seniors Michael Basteen (LEFT) and Talbot Wearne stop one another during a tackling drill.
Kade Stacy took the opening kick-off and returned it 93 yards for a score. Wesley Conyer added the conversion run and the Wildkats led 8-0 early in the contest.
However, that would be the extent of the scoring for the visitors. The host Lobos crossed the goal line for 38 unanswered points.
The Scarlet and Grey was limited to three first downs for 104 yards offense, 68 yards on 28 rushes, 36 yards on 4-13 passes, plus 127 returns yards. Additionally, Duncan averaged 37.5 yards on four punts, had no fumbles, and got called for one penalty for 10 yards.
Individually, senior Kade Stacy averaged 7.5 (2-15) yards per carry, sophomore Lucas Basteen 5 (1-5) yards, sophomore Cesar Contreras 3 (3-9) yards, junior Wesley Conyer 2.7 (14-38) yards, sophomore Chris Smith 1.5 (2-3) yards, junior Jay Gardner 0.3 (6-minus 2) yards, and sophomore Jayman Conyer zero (1-0) yards.
Smith completed 1-6 passes for 25 yards, freshman Jason McGrath 2-2 for nine yards, and Wesley Conyer 1-5 for two yards.
Stacy totaled 93 yards on one return; Contreras had 1-10, Gardner 3-21, and Basteen 1-3.
Photo By Raymundo Frasquillo: The Duncan Wildkats have their home opener this Friday.
Duncan faces its second of four East Region opponents, the NFL Yet College Prep Eagles, on Packer Field for the first time, Friday. The Eagles have a 2-0 edge over the Wildkats, meeting in the Phoenix area both during the regular season (24-28 Oct. 14) and for the post-season (26-64 Oct. 22) in 2016.
“They won’t hit harder than Hayden, but they are more athletic,” ninth-year DHS head coach Eldon Merrell said.
Photo By Raymundo Frasquillo: Senior Kade Stacy flips a large tire during a practice session. The Wildkats are preparing to take on the NFL Yet College Prep Eagles on Friday.
