Arcadia stuns Bearcats

By John Burson
Sports Writer
BASILE – In six seconds, the Basile High Bearcats and their fans experienced the highs and the lows of football in their quarterfinal contest here Friday night against the Arcadia High Hornets.
The Bearcats trailed the Hornets 14-12 with 3:35 left in the game, with possession of the ball on the Hornets 45-yard line. Basile head coach Kevin Bertrand decided to go to his best offensive option, senior running back Gabriel Fontenot.
Fontenot, who finished the game with 198 yards on 27 carries, delivered the goods as he carried the ball seven times in the 45-yard scoring drive. With 15 seconds left on the clock, Fontenot scored on a six-yard run to give the Bearcats a 20-14 lead. He then ran for the two-point conversion to make it 22-14.
The biggest play of the Bearcat drive, though, didn’t involve Fontenot. Instead, it came on a pass from quarterback Tray David to Jaylon Thomas to convert a fourth-and-seven with 2:18 left on the clock. Fontenot then carried four times in a row to score the touchdown.
The Bearcats kicked off to the Hornets and Arcadia was left with only six seconds to respond after taking possession of the ball at their own 35-yard line.
Hornet quarterback Danquarian Fields took the snap and was harassed by two Bearcat defenders as he looked to find a receiver down the field. On the run, Fields spotted an open receiver down the field inside the 20-yard line. Kordel Cortez caught the ball and raced into the end zone with no time left on the clock to tie the game at 20-20.
The Hornets tried a run for the two-point conversion, but a lineman was called for holding to force another try - this time back at the 13-yard line. Fields passed for the two-point conversion to win the game.
“We had a lot of heart, a lot of fight, and we left it all on the field. That is all I can ask of my players,” remarked Coach Bertrand after the game.
The Bearcats had a slow start against the Hornets, allowing Arcadia to drive 54 yards in 10 plays for the initial score of the contest. Fields scored on a two-yard run and the Hornets also converted the two-point try for an 8-0 lead.
The Bearcats attempted to answer, driving from their own 36 to the Hornets’ 14 before being stopped on a fourth down attempt. But the Cats recovered a fumble on the next play, but the offense was unable to convert a fourth down.
The Basile defense did force the Hornets to punt from inside the five-yard line. It paid off for the Bearcats as Jarred Belle returned the punt 39 yards for a touchdown. The PAT attempt failed, keeping the score at 8-6. Neither team threatened for the remainder of the half.
Basile had a drive to start the second half, driving to the 9-yard line before failing on a fourth down try. The Hornets would then drive 91 yards for a touchdown on a Fields to Cortez pass. Basile blocked the PAT kick, making it 14-12 and setting up the final quarter of play.
Basile finished the season at 10-2 with their fourth straight quarterfinal appearance.
Arcadia (10-3) will face District 1-1A rival Haynesville.
Haynesville grabbed a 30-18 win over White Castle.