The Pampa Harvesters (1-3) hit the road on Friday night to travel to Decatur and face the Eagles (1-3). It was a rainy morning as we loaded up to head to Decatur. Then, the sun came out and it became very humid. A few light sprinkles hit the stadium about thirty minutes prior to kickoff. The natural grass field had been very worked over due to the week’s rains. After the sun went down it was a perfect night for football.
The Eagles began the game with the ball after Pampa deferred their selection to the second half. Decatur went down quickly to put the first points on the board in just one minute of game action at 7-0 after the extra point was good.
Pampa began their first drive after the kickoff with a strike from Senior Brant Hill to Junior Judsen Hancock for 12 yards and a first down. Hill then found Sophomore Jose Alonzo on the next play for seven yards. Senior Leo Castro was next to join in on the catches with an eight yard catch of his own and another first down. The Harvesters’ drive ended up stalling out after that and they were forced to punt.
The Eagles went down quickly again to score and make it 14-0 with just over six minutes to play in the first quarter.
Hill found Junior Bryce Lynn on the ensuing Pampa drive for 12 yards but it wasn’t enough for a first down after a negative play to begin the drive. Pampa called a timeout before the fourth-down play but they were unsuccessful in converting the first down and turned the ball over on downs.
Decatur found paydirt quickly again on a one play drive for another long touchdown and the score now sat at 21-0 Eagles with about five minutes to go in the first half.
Pampa’s next drive was a quick three-and-out but, even though the punt was blocked, there was roughing the punter on the play and Pampa was granted another first down. The Harvesters couldn’t capitalize on the extra plays and were forced to punt again.
The Eagles looked like they might score again quickly but Pampa forced a fumble and Junior Aaron Diaz came up with the recovery to give the Harvesters the ball back.
On the next drive, Hill found Alonzo for another eight yard pass to begin the drive. Diaz ran for two yards and a first down on a third-down play. The Harvester drive ended abruptly after a couple of incompletions and a run for no gain.
Decatur scored again quickly to begin the second half and make the score 28-0 with 9:17 to play in the first half.
The highlight for Pampa on the following drive was Hill finding Lynn for an 11-yard pass and a first down. Hill also found Hancock for a big 12-yard gain but it was not enough for the first down. Pampa turned it over on downs after what appeared to be a failed attempt at getting the punt off. Decatur took over at the Pampa 25-yard line.
The Harvesters looked as if they might stop the Eagles for the first time all night but on fourth and goal, Nate Palmer walked into the endzone for another touchdown. Decatur now led 35-0 with about two minutes to play in the first half.
Hill found Hancock again for an eight-yard pass to begin the next drive. Senior Cooper Smith ran for four yards on third down for a first down. Hill found Lynn on the next play for five yards. Pampa’s drive started with promise but ended in another punt.
The Eagles struck fast again with a long touchdown to make the score 42-0. That would be your halftime score.
Pampa opened the second half with the ball. Sophomore Isaac Almanza got in the game at running back and he took his first touch for four yards. The next play, HIll found Lynn for 15 yards and a first down. Junior Corbin Knapp caught a six-yard pass from Hill but he was stopped several yards short of the first down. Pampa was forced to punt.
The Eagles offense was clicking all night and again struck paydirt on a one-play touchdown to make the score 49-0.
Pampa would go three and out on their next drive after a couple of runs by Almanza fell short of the line to gain.
Decatur went down and scored one last time to make it 56-0 before calling off the dogs.
Hill found Castro for an 11-yard first down pass before an interception halted the Pampa drive.
The Eagles decided to let off the gas and run the ball heavily for the remainder of the game. The Eagles also turned it over on downs on this drive rather than attempting a field goal deep inside Harvester territory.
Pampa’s last drive of the game looked to have some promise after a 17-yard run by Almanza. His run was followed by a four-yard run by Smith to gain a first down. Almanza then ran for eight more yards and another five more for a first down. The drive ended after a few incompletions.
Decatur took over the ball and ran the clock the rest of the way down. There was a running clock in the fourth quarter. Pampa had one final snap to end the game.
Final: Decatur 56, Pampa 0.
Other District Scores
Canyon beat Caprock 17-0 on Thursday night. Randall beat Wichita Falls High 30-28. Dumas lost to Plainview 30-24. Borger lost to Bushland 35-0. Perryton was losing 49-0 to Canadian at press time. Hereford was up on Tascosa 26-14 in the third quarter at press time.
The Harvesters will come back home next Friday night to face the Perryton Rangers for homecoming. The game will kick off at 7 pm at Harvester Field on September 22nd.
