Miscues cost Chinle in 40-22 loss to Kingman

By Truman Begaye
Special to the Navajo Times

CHINLE – The Chinle Wildcats kicked off the 2024 football season with a tough loss, falling to the Kingman Bulldogs in a 40-22 contest in a lightning-delayed showdown at Wildcat Stadium on Friday night. Despite multiple opportunities to stay in the game, costly turnovers led to the Wildcats’ defeat in their opening game.

The visiting Bulldogs won the coin toss and opted to take first possession, but the two teams struggled, leading to a series of punts.

In the opening quarter, Kingman fumbled twice, giving Chinle prime opportunities to score, but the Wildcats couldn’t capitalize as neither team scored heading into the next quarter

The two squads exchanged fumbles to start the second before Kingman broke the deadlock tie. After a two-point conversion, the Bulldogs led 8-0.

The game was later halted due to a lightning storm with 1:46 before the half. According to the AIA rulebook, the officials stop play for 30 minutes due to weather conditions as they consulted with the school administrators and coaches.

After the short delay, Chinle’s Kanin Tsinigini sparked some hope for the Wildcats by advancing the ball to their own 48-yard line.

Chinle’s offense, however, stalled which led to another punt. Kingman jumped on that opportunity and returned the punt for score, extending its lead to 14-0.

Despite being down, the Wildcats closed that gap when senior quarterback Ryan Brown connected with Tsinigini on a 14-yard touchdown pass.

The Wildcats opened the third quarter receiving the ball, but they could not convert. Kingman seized on that opportunity to go up 22-8.

Later in the quarter, Chinle responded with a strong drive, culminated with rushing TD at the 1-yard line, narrowing the score to 22-16 after a successful two-point conversion.

Kingman, however, continued its offensive success with D’Anthony Bush leading the charge for a 28-16 cushion.

Chinle fought back with Brown scoring a rushing touchdown late in the third quarter, bringing the Wildcats within six points, 28-22. Unfortunately, two costly turnovers in the fourth quarter hindered Chinle’s comeback efforts. Kingman capitalized on a Chinle fumble, scoring another touchdown that extended its lead to 34-22.

On its ensuing drive, Chinle drove the ball deep to Kingman’s 9-yard line, but a costly fumble ended that drive.

Kingman marched the field one last time and ending the final score at 40-22.

Afterward, Chinle head coach Pita Olomua reflected on the team’s performance.

“At the beginning of the game, you always have kids trying to get that butterfly out,” Olomua said. “That’s on us – we were not ready. We started picking it up in the middle of the game, but we had to fight back.”

Olomua emphasized the need to correct costly turnovers and improve the offensive and defensive lines. He also noted timing issues on offense, largely due to many new players, including several freshmen starting on varsity.

“I would say half of the team,” Olomua said. “We have quite a few freshmen starting because most of the kids don’t want to come out, so we just do next man up.”

Chinle will host Alchesay on Friday for a non-region game.

The Chinle Wildcats will look to bounce back in their next game, a home matchup against the Alchesay Falcons on August 30, 2024.

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