The undefeated Wildcats of Fleming met up with the undefeated Bobcats from Granada last Friday for an afternoon contest at the home of the Wildcats. Granada came in with a 5-0 record on the year while Fleming boasted a 4-0 season following the cancellation of one of their regular-season games.

Granada would receive the opening kickoff from the home team, but their possession would be cut short by an opening kickoff fumble that would be recovered by Wildcat senior Brady Kuntz. Kuntz would run the ball into the end zone, but would be called out of bounds at the 15-yard line where the Wildcats would take their first possession.

Fleming gained a few yards on their opening campaign on two running plays by senior Charles Hobbs when an incomplete pass on third down brought out sophomore kicker Kenny Bandy. Bandy's 31-yard kick sailed straight through the uprights to put Fleming on the board with four just a minute and 15 seconds into the game.

Granada received the Wildcats' kick from Hobbs deep in their own territory and returned it 30 yards before getting caught up by Fleming's defense. They took over for their second possession at their own 36-yard line. The Bobcats would run two plays before making their first first-down conversion. They followed up with a few unsuccessful plays when a fourth-down quarterback keeper put the ball on the eight-yard line where the Wildcats would take over on downs.

Sophomore running back Nolan Japp would take the first call of the Wildcats' second possession and pick up 11 yards. He'd also take the third down call and make a first down conversion for the home team putting them at their own 27-yard line. The first down hand off would go to senior Chris Goss who'd carry the ball 10 yards before pitching it back to Japp who gained another six and a first down and take the Wildcats into Bobcat territory.

A first down pass by senior quarterback Kade Comstock fell incomplete before Japp got the second-down call. A pitch to him would result in a 21-yard gain for the Wildcats and bring up first and goal at the six-yard line. The Wildcats called three plays picking up just five yards when a handoff from Comstock to Goss put Goss in the end zone for six. Bandy's kick again went straight up the middle and Fleming would go up 12-0 with three and half minutes left in the first quarter.

The Bobcats began their next campaign at the 15-yard line and nearly picked up a quick first down, but a holding call would bring them back deep in their own territory. They'd gain 10 yards on a third and 21 and pick up a first down on a fourth-down quarterback keeper that put them at the Wildcats' 34-yard line.

With 1:52 on the first quarter clock, Granada chipped away at yardage, picking up 16 on two downs and ended the first quarter on second down at the Wildcats' six-yard line. The two teams would switch end zones and the Bobcats ran three plays before finding the end zone. Their extra-points kick went through and they'd add their first eight of the contest to make the score 12-8, Fleming.

The visiting team followed up their debut touchdown of the game with an onside kick that they would recover at the Wildcats' 36-yard line. They grabbed seven yards on the first two plays, but an incomplete pass and fourth down bobble by the quarterback would allow Fleming to regain possession at mid-field.

Granada's defense came up big on first down, dragging down Comstock for an 11-yard loss. Comstock fired off incomplete passes on the second and third downs and the punting team would take the field.

The Wildcat defense allowed the Bobcats to convert two first down conversions on their next possession. Granada would march up the field running seven plays before scoring their second touchdown on a second down from the eight-yard line to take the lead 14-12 after the extra-points kick fell short.

With 2:14 to go in the half, Hobbs dropped deep to receive the kickoff. A short kick by Granada put the ball in the hands of Kuntz at around the Wildcats' 16-yard line. Kuntz, who tied the kickoff return record two weeks ago against Peetz, returned his 11th career kickoff to break the 23-year-old Colorado State record previously held by Simla's Tad Eurich. The kickoff return marked Kuntz's third of this six-game season and put the Wildcats back on top, 18-14. Bandy's kick went through and the Wildcats owned a six-point lead, 20-14 with just over two minutes remaining in the half.

Granada received Fleming's kickoff around the 10-yard line and returned it to their own 25-yard line. A complete pass would give them a gain of 46 yards and put them at first and goal from the Wildcats' nine-yard line. A delay of game call pushed them back five yards and brought up first and goal from the 14. The Bobcats completed their first-down pass and found themselves out of bounds at the one-yard line, but followed that up with hand off to go up the gut for the TD. Officials called two encroachment penalties on the Wildcats before sophomore Braylen Feather blocked the extra-points kick to leave the game tied at 20-all with 1:34 left in the half.

Granada went for the onside kick. Senior Stan Tryboski recovered the ball at the Wildcats' 36-yard line. A first down run by Japp earned the home team seven yards and they followed up with a 37-yard touchdown pass from Comstock to junior Joel Muller. A blocked extra-points kick kept the Wildcats' lead at 26-20.

Hobbs' kick went deep and out of bounds and the Bobcats took the spot at their own 25-yard line with 25 seconds left in the half. A quick Bobcat pass resulted in a fumble that was recovered by Hobbs and Fleming took over on Granada's 23-yard line.

Granada would take the ball back on the eight-yard line with an interception two plays later with just 30 seconds left in the half. The Bobcats went four and out before the end of the half and scoreboard would stand at 26-20.

Fleming received to open the second half. They took over at the three-yard line. They picked up a few yards on their first two downs when a pass from Comstock to Goss put them on their own 37-yard line and gave them the first down. A procedure flag on first down pushed them back five yards and brought up first and 20. With nowhere to go, the Wildcats were forced to punt away on fourth down and the Bobcats took over at their one-yard line with nearly three minutes off the third quarter clock.

A personal foul call on the Wildcats advanced the Bobcats to the 16-yard line, but several plays later they'd be pushed back following a face-mask call. Hobbs came up big on a third down punt forcing the Bobcats to punt the ball away.

Fleming took over with about five and half minutes to play on their own 16-yard line, but they'd punt after failing to convert to a first down.

Granada tacked on a 45-yard touchdown on the second play of the following possession to tie the game at 26. An extra-points kick hit the upright and bounced out leaving the score at 26-all with 2:58 left in the third quarter.

Kuntz grabbed the kickoff and brought it back to the Wildcats' 38-yard line. A first down pitch to Hobbs would put him the end zone for a rushing touchdown. The Wildcats would expand that lead by one with a pass for an extra point caught by Kuntz. The Wildcats would go up 33-26 with 2:44 left in the third.

The third quarter would end with the same tally with the Bobcats on Fleming's 39-yard line on fourth down and 10. The Wildcat defense gave up the conversion and Granada would find themselves at first and goal on the nine-yard line. A completed second-down pass gave the Bobcats six, but a blocked extra-points kick would leave them down by one, 33-32, with just over a minute off the fourth quarter clock.

Fleming ran two plays, both running plays to Japp, that put them in a second a goal situation when Goss ran one up the middle to expand Fleming's lead to 39-32. Bandy's kick sailed through and Fleming went up 41-32.

Granada answered back after converting two second downs to first downs on the following drive. They'd end up deep in Wildcat territory and would score on fourth and goal quarterback keeper. Their extra-points attempt would be blocked by Muller. With 3:45 left in the game, Fleming remained out in front by three, 41-38.

Granada regained possession after a recovered onside kick. They used the possession to take the lead when they punched one in on a second down with 1:41 left in the game. Granada took the lead 44-41. A pass attempt for a single point failed and Granada maintained a three-point lead.

Granada attempted another onside kick; this time the Wildcats managed to recover. Hobbs took a jog on the following play and put the Wildcats at first and goal with under a minute left to play. A first down rushing play failed; a second down rushing play failed; but a third-down pitch to Hobbs was a charm. Bandy's kick added another two to the hometown score and Fleming went up 49-44 with :29 left on the clock.

Fleming's defense allowed the Bobcats a kickoff return to near mid-field. A first down incomplete pass left :14 on the clock. Kuntz sealed the deal with a final play sack to maintain the Wildcats' undefeated season by a score of 49-44.

The Wildcat offense ran 39 plays and completed six first downs. They tallied a total of 357 yards for the day.

Fleming's ground game netted 251 yards. Japp led the group in rushing with 97 yards on eight carries. Hobbs followed with 95 yards on nine carries with two rushing TDs. Goss earned 71 yards off 10 carries and scored two touchdowns.

Muller led the Wildcats in receiving with one catch for 37 yards; a catch that resulted in a touchdown.

Kuntz led in tackles with 15 for the day. He brought down eight solo and seven assisted. Comstock followed with 11; four solo and seven assisted. Hobbs also hit double-digit figures in tackles with 10; split at five and five.

Bandy nailed one field goal for one attempt and put four of five points-after attempts through the goal posts. He tallied 12 points off the tip of his boot.

Goss and Hobbs also scored 12 points apiece in the contest; both earning two touchdowns.

Fleming is set to enter the quarterfinal round of playoffs this week. As the top-ranked team, they're pitted against the number-eight ranked Kit Carson Wildcats. Kit Carson stands at 3-1 on the year according to MaxPreps. The quarterfinal game is slated for 1 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 21 in Fleming.