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TURNOVERS COST CAVEMEN IN LOSS TO MAYFIELD

Turnovers cost Cavemen in loss to Mayfield

DEJANAY BOOTH

Carlsbad Current-Argus | 9/23/2017

PHOTO CREDIT: Carlsbad Athletics

Despite their best efforts to put points on the board, the Carlsbad Cavemen fell short Friday and suffered a 38-21 loss to Mayfield Trojans in their first district game.

The Cavemen (2-3 overall, 0-1 district) worked to increase their aggression on the field in the first quarter by pressuring the Trojans with an interception by senior running back Jake Bowen.

But the Trojans pushed back, forcing a fumble by the Cavemen in the first quarter. Although Mayfield later fumbled the ball, they were able to recover and run it in for touchdown, ending the quarter with a 7-0 lead.

Mayfield added two more touchdowns to the board in the second quarter.

The Cavemen were less than 20 yards from the goal line with two seconds left in the second quarter, but a pass thrown by senior quarterback Jaykan Willis was not successful. The Cavemen ended the first half with a 21-point deficit.

Cavemen Coach Gary Bradley said although it was a close game, turnovers were the team's downfall.

"You can't turn the ball over. That's the game. You turn over the ball too many times, it's hard to win a close ball game," Bradley said. "We made too many mistakes. We had great momentum in the third quarter. The quarter was incredible. It was really a testament to these guys' heart but, overall, just mistakes."

In the first few minutes of the third quarter, Mayfield kicked the ball in for three points, bringing the score to 24-0.

The Cavemen refused to give up, starting with an over 50-yard kick return by senior Evan Lara.

The drive following the kick return resulted in a touchdown.

With less than seven minutes in the third quarter, the Cavemen, however, fumbled the ball for a third time in the game.

The team worked to redeem the error with two touchdowns in the quarter by Willis and senior running back Tate Collins.

Going into fourth quarter, Mayfield responded with two more touchdowns, one of which was a result of a fumble by the Cavemen.

With 38-21 on the board, Carlsbad struggled to stop the Trojans, and the game ended with an interception by Mayfield.

Trojan Coach Michael Bradley, who is coach Gary Bradley's older brother, said Friday's win has set the Trojans in the right direction, but they still have "a lot of room for improvement."

The team was 0-4 in the season prior to the win against Carlsbad.

"We're now 1 and 4. We've got a long way to go but this win helps us out a lot," Michael Bradley said. "It's overdue. We wanted this one so bad."

"We came out strong. Second half, obviously, Carlsbad came back with their good football team. It was a hard fought football game."

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