The Wildcats would not be denied against the Timberwolves on Friday night.

Trailing by two touchdowns at halftime, Ferndale scored 22 unanswered points after the break on the way to a 28-20 win at Fort Bragg.

The victory was the first of the season for the Cats and lifts them to 1-1, while Fort Bragg dropped to 1-1.

“It was a great Friday night game under the lights,” Ferndale head coach Clint McClurg said. 

After switching from the offensive line to tight end, Levi Dixon had a big game and helped inspire his teammates to the big comeback.

Dixon pulled in a touchdown reception from quarterback Tanner Pidgeon and also had a key two-point conversion to tie the game as the Cats began to take control in the second half.

And that wasn’t all the senior standout did.

“We had some great leadership from Levi Dixon,” McClurg said. “He was keeping everybody focused.”

The visitors trailed 20-6 at halftime after a disappointing first half.

But they quickly put that behind them and came out battling in the second half.

Pidgeon also scored a touchdown on a QB sneak and “played lights out,” according to his coach.

Trent Titus also had a TD run as he continued his impressive start to the new season.

It was the offensive line, however, that really paved the way to victory, with starters Kacey Luster, Skiler Hall, Andrew Clevenger, Juan Mena-Funes and Ethan Weitzel all contributing.

Weitzel, who “has the heart of a champion,” according to his coach, has been outstanding through the opening two weeks of the season, on both sides of the ball.

The Cats, who barely lost in overtime to Fall River in week one, will host South Fork next weekend.