Bobcats storm past Jennings

JENNINGS – The Eunice High Bobcats jumped to an early lead, then held off a second-half rally to take a 44-28 victory over the Jennings High Bulldogs here Friday night at Jerry Simmons Stadium.
Coach Paul Trosclair’s Bobcats scored on their first three possessions for an 18-0 lead. Senior Darin Serie ran seven yards for a touchdown to end a 72-yard, eight-play scoring drive after receiving the opening kickoff. Wes Hebert kicked the PAT for a 7-0 lead.
The Bobcat defense forced a fumble and recovered it at the Bulldogs’ 12-yard line to set up the second score. It took the Cats just two plays to add to their lead as Nick Powell ran for eight yards and Serie scored the touchdown with a four-yard effort. Senior quarterback Alex Richard passed to Terryl Poullard for the two-point conversion for a 15-0 lead.
The Bobcat defense forced the Bulldogs to punt on the ensuing possession, holding the Dogs to just six yards on three running plays.
The Cats took possession after the punt at their own 15-yard line and would march 81 yards in seven plays to the Jennings 4-yard line. The drive stalled at that point and Hebert came on to make a 23-yard field goal for an 18-0 advantage with 2:52 remaining in the first quarter.
Jennings would pick up its initial first down following the kickoff, but the Cats would force a punt to take possession at their own 38-yard line. The Cats would drive 65 yards in five plays for a touchdown. Nick Powell, who had a 31-yard run to spark the drive, scored the touchdown with a 16-yard run up the middle. Hebert drilled the PAT kick for a 25-0 lead.
Neither team could get their offense going in their next possessions, but the Bulldogs would take over at their own 41 and drive 59 yards in six plays for a touchdown. Quarterback Kendrick LeJeune ran 14 yards and completed a 19-yard pass to Taylor Joesph to set up running back Travis Etienne’s 15-yard scoring run. Issac Lantz kicked the PAT to cut the lead to 25-7 with just 1:20 left in the half.
The Bobcat offense took possession at their own 32 on the kickoff and would take just two plays to add to their lead. Travis Godfrey ran 31 yards before Powell finished the drive with a 37-yard touchdown run. The PAT kick was wide left, but the Cats went into halftime with a 31-7 lead.
The Bulldogs got great field position on the second-half kickoff when Keuante Riggs return it 37 yards to the Eunice 43. LeJeune teamed with Malik Joseph on a 25-yard pass play and Etienne ran for eight yards to the Eunice 25. LeJeune ran 25 yards for a touchdown and Lantz added the PAT to cut the lead to 31-14.
After forcing a punt from the Cats, which Taylor Joseph returned 25 yards to the Cats’ 29, the Bulldogs, sparked by LeJeune’s 21-yard run, would score on a two-yard run by Etienne to cut the Eunice lead to 31-21 with a Lantz PAT kick.
On the ensuing kickoff, Godfrey returned the kick 45 yards to set up another touchdown. This time it was Richard teaming with Poullard on a 40-yard touchdown pass play with 5:46 left in the third quarter. Hebert’s PAT kick made it 38-21.
The Bulldogs still had some fiight in them, with Malik Joseph returning the kickoff 28 yards to the Jennings 40. The Dogs moved the ball down to the Eunice and it was from there that Etienne scored on an 8-yard run. The PAT kick by Lantz cut the lead to 38-28.
The Cats would put the game away in the fourth quarter when Hebert would break free for a 75-yard touchdown run with 11:38 left in the game. Hebert missed the PAT, but the 44-28 lead was too much for the Bulldogs to overcome.
In post-game remarks, Coach Trosclair was proud of his team’s effort. “Our offensive staff did a great job of getting us going early in the game and making adjustments during the game. Our defense played well, but we did have to make an adjustment in the second half.”
Trosclair praised the character of his team, remarking that they responded well when Jennings scored two quick touchdowns in the second half.
Eunice travels to St. Martinville on Thursday.
The Tigers (1-1) lost 21-12 to Assumption.