Bobcats rally past Gents

CROWLEY – The Eunice High Bobcats outscored the Crowley High Gents by a 13-0 margin in the second half to claim a 27-22 victory here Friday night at Gardiner Memorial Stadium.
Paul Trosclair’s Bobcats came out strong to open the game as Dashawn Vigers returned the Gents’ kickoff 27 yards. The Cats put together a 63-yard scoring drive in eight running plays to open the scoring. Avery Lee had runs totaling 25 yards and Trevin Ceasar capped the drive with a 9-yard touchdown run. Austin Phillips kicked the PAT to give the Bobcats a 7-0 lead.
The Bobcats got the ball right back on Crowley’s first offensive play when Brandon Ndubueze intercepted a pass by Marquis Garrett.But the Cats were eventually forced to punt.
Crowley took possession at the Eunice 40 following a short punt. They would drive 60 yards in eight plays for a touchdown. Keith Wilson did the honors with a two-yard run. Wilson ran for the two-point conversion to give the Gents an 8-7 lead.
The Cats took advantage of Georrein Dupre’s 43-yard kickoff return to set themselves up with great field position at the Crowley 42. Lee ran three times for 17 yards to set up a touchdown pass from Jaden Brasseaux to Dashawn Vigers for a 31-yard touchdown. Phillips kicked the PAT to put the Bobcats on top 14-8.
The Gents answered back with a 70-yard scoring drive which featured the passing of freshman quarterback Garrett. He went five for five on pass completions to set up Wilson’s two-yard touchdown run. The PAT run failed, but the Gents tied the game at 14-14.
After the Cats were forced to punt, the Gents took advantage of excellent field position to break the tie. Wilson broke loose on a 60-yard run, then scored from the one-yard line. Wilson added the two point conversion to put the Gents on top 22-14 with just over seven minutes left in the half. Neither team was able to add to their points before the half conclued.
The Gents took the kickoff and moved deep within Eunice territory. But the Bobcat defense held the Gents on a fourth down at the 17-yard line when Austin Deculus broke up a screen play to turn the ball over his offense.
After two runs by Lee for nine yards, Trevin Ceasar found a big opening at his own 28 and raced 71 yards before being tackled at the Gents one-yard line. Ceasar scored on the next play and Phillips kicked the PAT to pull within one point of the Gents, at 22-21 with 7:25 left in the third quarter.
The Gents went on a long drive following the kickoff, moving down to the Eunice 10. Facing a fourth-and-seven, the Gents attempted to pass for the first down but failed.
The Cats responded with a long drive of their own, moving into Crowley territory before having to punt. Brasseaux’s punt pinned the Gents at their own 9. Three plays later, a poor snap on a fourth down play gave the Cats the football at the two-yard line with 3:57 left in the game.
Brasseaux stayed behind his offensive line on first down to power into the end zone for a touchdown. The PAT pass failed but the Cats held a 27-22 lead.
The Bobcat defense did its job, stopping a fourth down pass with 2:16 to give the ball back to their offense. The Bobcats used a 14-yard run by Ian George to put themselves in position to kill the clock to take the victory on Crowley’s homecoming night.
The Bobcats will travel this week to face the undefeated Rayne Wolves.
Rayne rolled to a 55-38 win over DeQuincy (3-1).