Gents run past Bobcats, 42-21

CROWLEY – Crowley High junior running back Ty’Von Griffin light up the scoreboard for six touchdowns as the Gents defeated the Eunice High Bobcats 41-21 in 4-4A action Friday night here at Gardiner Memorial Stadium.
Neither team picked up a first down on their initial possessions of the game. The Bobcats were forced to punt a second time on their second possession from their own 9-yard line.
The Gents took possession at the Eunice 37 after a short return. Crowley took advantage of the field position to score a touchdown on a 2-yard run by Griffin. Andrew Simon kicked the PAT for a 7-0 lead at the 5:08 mark of the first quarter.
The Cats drove into Gents’ territory on the ensuing drive as Darin Serie scampered 35 yards and Alex Richard completed a 10-yard pass to Travis Godfrey to the Gents’ 34.
But a holding penalty backed up the Cats and on the next play, a fumbled exchange in the backfield resulted in a turnover.
The Cats got the ball back from the Gents on an interception by Ernest Jones at the Bobcat 12-yard line. But the Cats were forced to punt from their own 7-yard line.
The Gents took possession at their own 37 and marched 63 yards in eight plays for a touchdown. Griffin, who carried seven times on the drive, scored from the 5-yard line and Simon added the PAT kick for a 14-0 lead with 8:38 left in the first half.
The Bobcats responded with an 80-yard, 15-play scoring drive that benefited from a roughing the passer penalty and a pass interference call.
Richard scored on a 9-yard run and Wesley Hebert kicked the PAT to cut the lead to 14-7 with 1:36 left in the half.
Crowley received the second half kickoff and were forced to punt from their own 45. The Cats mishandled the bouncing punt and the ball was recovered by the Gents at the Bobcat 16-yard line. Griffin had runs of 12 and four to score the touchdown. Simon kicked the PAT to put the Gents up 21-7 at the 9:37 mark of the third quarter.
The Bobcat again responded to cut the lead to 21-14. On a second-and-11 from their own 30, Richard teamed with Godfrey on a 71-yard scoring pass. Godfrey shook off a tackle at the 25 and went the distance to cut the Crowley lead to 21-14 with 8:34 left in the third quarter after Hebert nailed the PAT kick.
It took Crowley only one play to answer the Bobcat challenge. Griffin scored his fourth touchdown on a 76-yard run with 8:10 left in the quarter. Simon missed the PAT kick, but the Gents held a 27-14 lead.
Again the Cats responded; this time with a 64-yard scoring drive highlighted by a Richard to Godfrey pass of 30 yards and a 36-yard run by Serie. Richard capped the drive with a one-yard run and Hebert kicked the PAT to cut the lead to 27-21 with 6:07 left in the third quarter.
The back-and-forth offensive show continued following the kickoff as the Gents marched 68 yards in six plays for a touchdown. Griffin scored his fifth touchdown with a 32-yard run and Simon made the PAT kick to extend the lead to 34-21 with 3:41 left in the third quarter.
The Cats were forced to punt on the ensuing possession, but Griffin fumbled and Aijh Johnson recovered deep in Crowley territory.
But the Gents held the Cats out of the end zone and put the game away with an 84-yard, 14-play scoring drive. Griffin scored his sixth touchdown with a two-yard run and Simon kicked the PAT for a 41-21 lead with just 5:03 left in the contest.
The Cats did threaten again thanks to a 44-yard pass play from Richard to Serie. But the Gents stopped the Cats on a fourth-and-3 at the Gents’ 29 to close out the victory.