Wildcats open season with 50-6 loss to Meek
Tharptown’s Felix Mojica (16) looks for running room during Thursday’s game at Meek. The Wildcats dropped their season opener 50-6. | Scot Beard/FCT
ARLEY – The 2010 season began on a sour note Thursday night for the Tharptown football team as the Wildcats fell to Meek 50-6.
Tharptown struggled to stop the run on defense and had trouble finding its rhythm on offense.
“We couldn’t get the run game going,” said Tharptown coach Bill Smith. “We’ve got a long way to go.”
Meek (1-0, 0-0) did not waste time taking control of the game. The Tigers first play was a 43-yard pass before switching to the run game to complete the 64-yard scoring drive.
Tharptown’s offense moved deep into Meek territory on the ensuing drive. Facing third-and-14, Tharptown quarterback Jacob Parker took the snap and rolled left to pass. He bobbled the ball, but regained possession and completed a 65-yard pass to Kelby Hallmark.
The drive stalled at the Meek 10-yard line when Meek intercepted a Parker pass and returned it 93 yards for an apparent touchdown. The score was taken off the board due to a penalty against the Tigers.
The Tharptown defense stopped the Meek drive and forced a punt. The Wildcat offense was unable to take advantage of the good field possession and punted the ball back to Meek.
The Tigers returned the punt 86 yards for another score, but once again a penalty against the Tigers wiped out the touchdown.
Midway through the second quarter Meek added to its lead with a 5-yard touchdown run to move ahead 14-0. The Tigers scored again with 3:34 to play in the quarter with a 25-yard pass.
Tharptown’s offense then put together its only scoring drive of the night. Brandon Cothrum stepped in at quarterback and completed 3-of-5 passes for 48 yards on the drive, including an 18-yard touchdown pass to Parker.
The two-point conversion failed and the Wildcats trailed 21-6 at halftime.
Meek continued to use its potent rushing attack to score on its first three drives of the second half. The Tigers capped off their scoring with 3:35 remaining in the game when a defender intercepted a Cothrum pass and returned it 81 yards for a touchdown.
Tharptown (0-1, 0-0) drove to the Meek 16-yard line on the next possession, but fumbled the ball. Meek recovered and was able to run out the clock.
Cothrum was 5-of-13 passing for 96 yards, one interception and one touchdown while Parker completed 2-of-7 passes for 68 yards and one interception.
Hallmark led the Wildcats with three receptions for 117 yards. Parker pulled in two passes for 40 yards and a touchdown.
Nathan Gray carried the ball six times for 55 yards. Felix Mojica was the next leading rusher for the Wildcats with five carries for nine yards.
Tharptown has its home opener Friday when the Wildcats host Addison in their first region game of the season.
