Gents grab key win over Bobcats

The Crowley High Gents put together an 89-yard fourth-quarter touchdown drive in 16 plays to seal a key District 4-4A victory Friday night over the Eunice High Bobcats at Bobcat Stadium.

The drive took 7:25 off the clock and added seven points to enhance a 21-20 Crowley lead. The touchdown, a 30-yard pass from quarterback Pate Broussard to running back Ty’Von Griffin, put the Gents up 28-20 after a PAT kick by Andrew Simon.

The time-eating drive left the Bobcats wtih just 3:12 left in the game.

The Cats took over at their own 35 following the kickoff and converted a fourth down on a pass from Alex Richard to Jerwaski Thomas with 2:27 remaining. 

The Cats managed to get to the 50-yard line, but failed on a fourth down at the 2:03 mark. 

The Gents ran off the remaining time to claim the victory.

The Gents improved to 6-3 overall and 4-2 in district play. 

The loss dropped the Bobcats to 5-4 overall and to 3-2 in district play.

Coach Paul Trosclair’s Bobcats scored on their initial possession of the game for the early lead. A high snap over the head of Gents’ punter Simon gave the Cats the football at the Crowley 20-yard line. 

Jake Sonnier ran for five yards, Darious Richard added a 10-yard run, and Chris Johnson capped the short drive with a 5-yard touchdown run. 

The Cats failed on a two-point conversion, but led 6-0 with 10:07 left in the first quarter.

On the Gents’ first play following the kickoff, the Cats recovered a fumble at the Crowley 29. But the Cats were unable to take advantage of the field position and Alex Richard was intercepted by Jacob Doucet on fourth down. 

The Gents took advantage of the interception on second down as senior running back Chris Lewis broke free on a 64-yard touchdown run. 

Simon tacked on the PAT kick to put the Gents on top 7-6 with 7:15 left in the first quarter.

After forcing a Bobcat punt, the Gents took possession at their own 20 with 5:11 left in the opening quarter. 

On a third-and-six, Broussard teamed with Terrell Thomas on a 73-yard pass play to the Eunice 3-yard line. 

On third-and-goal at the 3, Broussard ran in for a touchdown. Simon kicked the PAT for a 14-6 lead with 2:49 left in the first quarter. 

The Cats failed to get anything going on their next possession, but their defense forced a Gent punt after Skylar Ned’s 9-yard sack of Broussard on third down.

The Bobcats would drive 76 yards in 12 plays for a touchdown. Darious Richard ran three yards for the score and Alex Richard’s pass to Chris Johnson was good for two points to tie the game at 14-14 with 5:13 left in the half.

Key plays on the drive included a 13-yard run by Sonnier, a 32-yard by Alex Richard, and a 19-yard run by Darious Richard.

The Gents drove to the Eunice 35 following the kickoff, but were stopped at that point on fourth-and-10 incomplete pass at the 2:27 mark. 

The Cats drove to the Gents’ 36 but failed to convert on a fourth down at the 32, turning the ball over to Crowley with 1:02 left in the half.

The Gents advanced down the field with Broussard completing four of five passes covering 62 yards to the Eunice 10 with just 23 seconds left prior to halftime. A face mask penalty against the Cats on the tackle at the 10 gave the Gents a first-and-goal at the 5. Ty’von Griffin scored the touchdown with 11 seconds left. With Simon’s PAT kick, the Gents led 21-14 at the half.

After an exchange of punts to start the second half, the Bobcats took advantage of a 13-yard punt to take possession of the ball at the Crowley 39.

Ten plays later the Bobcats scored on Johnson’s 8-yard run. The PAT kick was blocked to keep Crowley on top by a 21-20 score. 

Key plays on the drive included a Richard pass to Andrew Lomas covering 13 yards and a Richard to Sonnier pass for nine yards.

The Bobcats got the ball back to their offense by forcing a punt from the Gents’ 35. A quarterback sack by Malenski Thomas was a key defesive play.

The Cats gained possession at their own 43 with 2:57 left in the third quarter. The Cats used the running attack to move to the Gents’ 14, but fell short of converting a first down by one yard on a fourth-and four.

The Gents took control and began their game-clinching drive with 10:37 left on the clock.

Coach Trosclair thought his players gave great effort in the game, but felt mistakes in critical situations mad the difference. “We had opportunities but couldn’t take the big play.”