By Joel Weckerly, Sports Editor

The junior varsity football team dropped its third game of the season to Ranger College’s varsity team, 34-14, on Saturday.

The Wild-cats trailed 27-0 at halftime but came back to score twice in the second half; once on a 48-yard touchdown scamper by freshman wideout Macie Shaw and once on a quarterback keeper by freshman Brock Pierce.

“We played a bad first half,” junior varsity coach Colby Carthel said. “I challenged them to come out and play in the second half, and we ended up playing a good overall game.”

Turnovers killed the Wildcats in the first half. Ranger returned two ACU fumbles for touchdowns and blocked two ACU punts-one of which was returned for a score.

Pierce finished with 14 of 27 passing for 138 yards, while freshman running back Brandon Martin picked up 43 yards rushing in the second half. Carthel said junior linebacker Rosell Smith and freshmen defensive linemen Anthony Fitzgerald and Kevin Hatcher all played solid defensive games.

“We need to work on the turnovers and the big special teams plays,” Carthel said. “If you take away those four [Ranger defensive] plays, you have a tight ballgame.

“We’re looking for improvement,” he said. “We want to get our run game going and get together as a team.”

The Wildcats take on McMurry’s junior varsity team 7 p.m. Thursday at McMurry.