St. James ends Bobcats’ season

The St. James High Wildcats brought an end to the Eunice High season with a 30-19 victory over the Bobcats in regional round action in the Class 3A state playoffs played at Bobcat Stadium.
The Wildcats used an 18-point second quarter to break open a close game on their way to a 24-7 halftime lead.
Coach Paul Trosclair’s Bobcats fought back in the second half, outscoring St. James by a 12-6 margin, but the clock and the season ran out on the Cats.
“Our players fought hard all the way to the end,” said Trosclair. “I’m proud of our team and what we accomplished this season.”
“Give St. James credit, their defense was very athletic and on offense, the play of their quarterback, Lowell Narcisse, was a big factor.”
The Wildcat defense flexed its muscle in the game’s first series, limited the Bobcats to six yards and forcing a punt. The Wildcat offense took over at their own 21-yard line and embarked on a 7-play, 79-yard drive for a touchdown. The score came at the 7:04 mark of the quarter on a Demarcus Williams pass to Arron McKenny covering 41 yards. The run for two points failed.
Neither team could move the football on their next possessions, but the Cats got their offense going after taking over the football at their own 35. It took nine plays to drive the 65 yards for a touchdown, with the big play coming on a 46-yard pass from Alex Richard to Dashawn Vigers. The score came with 57.6 seconds left in the first quarter on a Richard to Wesley Hebert pass covering six yards. Hebert kicked the PAT to give the Bobcats a 7-6 lead.
The Bobcat defense forced a punt from the Wildcats on the ensuing possession, but the Wildcats’ defense would come up with a big play on an interception of a Richard pass by Jaylon Braxton, who returned it 17 yards for a touchdown. The PAT pass failed, but the Wildcats held a 12-7 lead with 8:51 left in the first half.
Following a Bobcat punt, the Wildcats would score again, this time on a 33-yard pass play from Narcisse to Williams. The PAT run failed, but St. James held an 18-7 lead with 3:22 left in the half.
The Bobcats could not stop the Wildcats’ momentum, being forced to punt again on their next possession. Taking possession at their own 35, the Wildcats would strike again behind the arm of Narcisse, who completed the drive with a five-yard touchdown pass to Williams. The Wildcats missed the PAT kick but held a 24-7 halftime lead.
Neither team could score during the third quarter, though both had opportunities, The Bobcats failed on a fourth-and-three at the Wildcat 29 to end their drive. The Wildcats lost a fumble on their possession which was recovered by the Bobcats’ Lukas Deculus. But Eunice was stopped on a fourth down on an incomplete pass at the St. James 24.
The Wildcats would advance from that spot with a 72-yard scoring drive in 13 plays. It climaxed with Narcisse scoring on a one-yard run for a 30-7 lead. The PAT kick was blocked.
The Bobcats responded with a 59-yard scoring drive in nine plays. The big play of the drive was a pass from Richard to Travis Godfrey covering 24 yards. Richard scored from the one-yard line with a quarterback sneak, but the PAT run failed, making it a 30-13 game.
The Bobcats attempted an onside kick and it was recovered by Ajyh Johnson at the St. James 49. But the Bobcats couldn’t convert on fourth down, turning the ball over to the Wildcats.
The Bobcats held and got the ball back at the Eunice 26 following a punt. Richard teamed with Vigers on passes of 21 and 5 yards before hitting Godfrey for a 27-yard gain. After a 4-yard run by Nick Powell, Richard scored on a one-yard run to cut the lead to 30-19 with 57 seconds left in the game.
Richard finished the game with 12 completion in 23 attempts for 168 yards. Powell led the rushing attack with 57 yards on 10 carries. Vigers caught four passes for 84 yards and Godfrey had three receptions for 50 yards.
Narcisse finished as the leading rusher for the Wildcats with 15 carries for 97 yards.
St. James will face the Northwest High Raiders in the quarterfinal round of the 3A state playoffs next week. The Raiders defeated Marksville by a 22-21 margin to advance to the quarterfinal round.