Bobcats hold off Mustangs

The Eunice High Bobcats fought to hold on late in the game to claim a 22-18 victory in the opening round of the Class 3A state playoffs.
The number two seeded Bobcats controlled the football for the final 5:24 to earn the win over the number 31 seeded Eleanor McMain High Mustangs.
Mustang quarterback Darnell Williams tossed a touchdown pass to Jamiaryn Wallace to cut the Bobcat lead to four points. After having to chase a bouncingg kickoff, the Bobcats got the football at their own 10-yard line, knowing that they couldn’t afford to give the ball back to the Mustangs.
The Cats proceeded to pick up two first downs as they ran eight plays to eat up the clock. The second first down came with 2:36 left on the clock and the Cats ran three more plays as the clock ran down to end the game.
Bobcat head coach Paul Trosclair had noted early in the week that he thought McMain was the best 31-seed he had ever seen after studying video. The Mustangs proved him right from the opening kickoff.
The Mustangs received the opening kickoff and drove to the Eunice 32 before being forced to punt on a fourth-and-19. The punt was blocked, giving the Cats possession at their own 31.
The Cats, though, couldn’t take advantage of the blocked punt and were forced to punt, but the Mustangs weren’t able to threaten the Bobcat defense and had to punt.
The Cats took over at their own 30 and would drive 70 yards in 11 plays for the game’s first touchdown. Senior quarterback Alex Richard capped the drive with a two-yard run with 10:37 left in the first half. Nick Powell did most of the damage for the Bobcats, carrying seven times for 52 yards. Richard also completed two passes covering 12 yards to Travis Godfrey.The PAT kick sailed wide to keep the score at 6-0.
The Mustangs wasted no time in responding, capping a five-play, 57-yard drive with a 30-yard touchdown pass from Williams to Waldorf Gipson. The PAT pass was intercepted by Terryl Poullard to keep the score tied at 6-6 at the 8:02 mark of the second quarter.
The Cats responded with a long drive of their behind the running of Nick Powell, who had runs of 16 and 13, but the Cats stalled at the McMain 13-yard when they failed to pick up a first down on a fourth-and-12 pass.
The Mustangs would counter with a drive from their own 13 to the Bobcat 36 before they were unable to convert a fourth-and-10.
After a five-yard penalty on McMain to start the drive, the Bobcats would drive 59 yards in four plays in the final seconds of the half for a touchdown. As time expired to end the half, Richard lofted a pass into the end zone which was grabbed for a touchdown by Godfrey. Powell, who had runs of 16 and six yards on the drive, ran for the two-point conversion to put the Cats ahead 14-6 heading into halftime.
The Bobcats received the second half kickoff, but were unable to move the ball and were forced to punt. McMain was pinned back at their own 13, but Williams scrambled for 20, passed to Wallace for 17, then hit a big 40 yard pass to set up his own 2-yard scoring run. The PAT pass failed, but the Mustangs had pulled with 14-12 with 8:35 left in the third quarter.
The Cats responded with a drive from their 31 to the McMain 28, but a fumble was recovered by the Mustangs to end the drive.
The Mustangs were not able to get anything going thanks to a quarterback sack by Larry Rideau and a big hit by Ajyh Johnson to break up a screen pass. On fourth down, a punt attempt by Williams was pressured and he tried to run but was tackled short of a first down.
The Cats took over at the McMain 22 after a penalty and took just two plays to score. Powell ran for seven yards then found room on the outside for a 10-yard touchdown run. Travis Godfrey ran for the two-point conversion to give the Cats a 22-12 lead with 1:35 left in the third quarter.
Once agin the Mustangs would respond, driving from their own 23 to the Eunice 38. But a lost fumble at that point was recovered by Brandon Nubuzyze to give the Cats possession.
The drove down the field behind the running of Powell and Georren Dupre, but Powell would turn the ball over at the McMain 24 and the Mustangs would cash in on the Bobcat mistake.
Williams led his team from its own 27 to the Eunice 13, completing the drive with a 13-yard pass play from Williams to Wallace. The PAT pass failed when it was intercepted by Godfrey, keeping the score at 22-18 in favor of the Cats and setting up the final Bobcat drive to kill the clock.
Powell finished the game with 212 yard on 33 carries to lead the Bobcats. Godfrey finished with four receptions for 51 yards. Williams led the Mustangs with 329 yards passing. Wallace had 121 yards in receiving.