Itasca fell behind early and then scored 39 unanswered points to win 39-6 in the season opener at Patton Field on Friday night.
The Wortham Bulldogs have a young team with not much varsity experience and the Wampus Cats enjoyed a couple of turnovers and took advantage of the Bulldog inexperience.
Wortham punted on their first possession but they turned the ball back on a fumble recovered by E.J. Salazar. It took the Bulldog offense six plays and Michael McGlone scored on an eight-yard run for an early 6-0 lead.
Itasca scored on the third play from scrimmage on their next possession. Javonn Reed had a 45-yard touchdown run to tie the score. The game stayed the same until just before the half. Chris Neal intercepted a pass and returned it 20 yards for the go-ahead score.
The Wampus Cats took control with the big play on the first drive of the second half. Andrew Arellano connected with David Arellano on a 70-yard bomb down the middle for the score. The conversion run was good, and the lead grew to a Wampus Cat 20-6 lead.
Reed added a 14-yard run with just over three minutes remaining in the third quarter and the extra point put the Itasca lead at 27-6. He would add his third touchdown on an eight-yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter. Jeff Knight scored the final touchdown on the night with an eight-yard run to set the final score at 39-6.
Wortham will return to the historic rock wall home stadium when they host the Saints of Dallas First Baptist Academy.
Scott Batts reporting.
