LEVELLAND — Idalou put the work in workmanlike Friday night, grinding out a 28-0 triumph against Levelland and spoiling the Lobos’ home opener.
Idalou sophomore quarterback Alec Estes stepped up and delivered for the Wildcats, throwing two touchdown passes and rushing for another before Idalou converted two fourth-quarter interceptions into two additional TDs that clinched the outcome.
“I was really proud of the way Alec stepped up and played,” Idalou coach Johnny Taylor said after his team improved to 1-1. “He made big passes when he needed to, and we got some big catches from our receivers, and our line did a great job giving him time.”
Estes engineered a 94-yard scoring drive that consumed 13 plays and featured four third-down conversions, the final one coming on a beautiful 25-yard touchdown pass to Jacob Johnson. The point-after kick gave Idalou a 7-0 lead with 11:14 remaining in the opening quarter.
“Alec did a great job making plays throughout the game,” Taylor said.
The Idalou QB provided another example later in the third quarter when he directed a 68-yard drive that took up more than seven minutes and ended with a 15-yard scoring pass to Johnson with 1:32 left.
Levelland (0-2) had its chances early. The team’s third drive of the night, which began at the Idalou 34, ended in nightmare fashion when Omar Gonzales was separated from the ball at the 6. The Wildcats recovered to snuff the drive.
The Lobos had three other possessions end in interceptions. Johnson had one, and Brent Turner picked off two in the fourth quarter, each of which set up abbreviated Idalou scoring jaunts.
The Wildcats traveled 30 yards for the first of the two touchdowns, and running back Nick Gary covered the distance in two carries, going 5 yards for the score that made it 21-0. On the ensuing play, Turner picked off another pass, setting up a 26-yard scoring drive that Estes wrapped up with a 2-yard plunge.
—Doug Hensley

IDALOU 28, LEVELLAND 0
Idalou 0 7 7 14 – 28
Levelland 0 0 0 0 – 0
Scoring Summary
Second Quarter
IDA—Jacob Johnson 25 pass from Alec Estes (Nick Gary kick), 11:14
Third Quarter
IDA—Johnson 15 pass from Estes (Gary kick), 1:32
Fourth Quarter
IDA—Gary 5 run (Gary kick), 4:40
IDA—Estes 3 run (Gary kick), 1:59
TEAM STATISTICS
IDA LEV
First downs 15 8
Rushes-yards 40-108 26-99
Passing yards 188 99
Passes 22-12-1 23-8-3
Fumbles-lost 1-1 2-1
Penalties-yards 5-45 6-45
Punts-avg.4-27.5 5 37.4
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING: Idalou, Estes 16-35, Gary 14-30, Johnson 7-26, Sosa 2-11, Johnson 1-6
Levelland, Rosales 7-45, Woodard 11-36, DelCampo 6-19, Armes 1-3, Vidales 1-(-11).
PASSING: Idalou, Estes 12-22-1 188 yds.
Levelland, DelCampo 8-23-3 99 yds
RECEIVING: Idalou, J.Johnson 4-119, C.Johnson 2-21, Guinn 2-14, Sosa 1-4
Levelland, Gonzales 4-40, Armes 2-32, Vest 1-16.