After a tough stretch of five losses in a row and a canceled homecoming game, the Cuba High School football team was in need of a feel good win on Oct. 17 during Senior Night. The Wildcats did just that, rebounding from a difficult week with a decisive 48-20 win over Bayless with Hancock on Friday night at Wildcat Pride Field.

Cuba’s seniors and their families were honored before the game, and the celebrations continued on the field. Wildcat seniors Paco Leos, Ryan Thompson and Gavin Robinson all scored rushing touchdowns and Cameron Carnal caught a 42-yard touchdown pass to cap off their careers under the lights of Wildcat Pride Field in the endzone.

Cuba head coach Kaleb Cason said that the team rallied behind the seniors and took the field with added energy and motivation to end the losing streak.

“We just wanted it more,” Cason said. “I think when the seniors came back in the locker room, the whole team just went nuts for them, and that energy came right out in the field and never left. I think that it was just the energy created in the locker room that made the difference.”

But it took until the second quarter for the Wildcats to find their rhythm. Cuba gave up a long touchdown run in the first minute of the game, quickly falling behind by seven points. Wildcat running back Ethan Noltkamper then reignited the fire from the home crowd with a 68-yard rushing touchdown run of his own. After the extra point was no good, Bayless scored another touchdown to make it a 14-6 score. Bayless was in the lead with one minute and six seconds left in the first quarter. 

Once the second quarter started, a switch seemed to flip for the Wildcats after they forced a Bayless fumble. Cuba was the superior team for the rest of the game, outscoring Bayless 42-6 in the final three quarters. 

Cason spoke afterward about what led to the Wildcats dominance after the slow start. 

“I think it just took us a little bit to get used to the speed of the game,” Cason said. “We didn’t get to play last week. We’ve taken practice easy to ensure we were healthy, so we just haven’t really got to pop people. I feel like once we got used to the speed of the game and the physicality, we settled in and did what we knew we could do.”

Cuba’s defense found its rhythm after the early deficit, thanks to timely tackling and multiple forced turnovers. Wildcat juniors Zane Brown and AJ Flores each forced fumbles to help seize the game for Cuba. Brown and senior Wyatt McMillian led Cuba’s swarming defense with six tackles. Noah Halbert and Damion Ferguson each added a tackle for loss. 

The Wildcats’ offense was led by Noltkamper, who racked up 245 yards rushing yards, two rushing touchdowns and a receiving touchdown. Quarterback Jesse Shireman steadied Cuba’s attack and threw for two touchdowns. 

After missing out on their homecoming game, Cuba’s seniors were able to give themselves a memory they will never forget. Cason beamed when speaking about what the win meant for his seniors. 

“I’m so proud of them,” Cason said. “They have taken their lumps in their last four years and to win tonight was perfect. I am so proud of them, and I’m so happy for them that they got to win on their senior night.”

Cuba will play their last regular season game of the year at 1 p.m. on Oct. 25 in Perryville.