Dragons down Bobcats, 10-7

DeRidder High kicker Kevin Erpelding made a 32-yard field goal with 3:53 remaining in the game to lift the Dragons to a 10-7 victory over the Eunice High Bobcats in the opening contest of the Coach Joe Nagata Memorial Football Jamboree held Thursday evening at the St. Edmund Blue Jay Athletic Complex.
The Dragons opened the game in explosive fashion after taking the ball at their own 20 after Bobcat kicker Wes Hebert’s kickoff sailed into the end zone.
On first down, Cameron Goins found a big hole in the middle of the Bobcat defense and outran the Bobcat pursuers for an 80-yard touchdown run. The PAT kick by Erpelding put the Dragons ahead 7-0.
After receiving the ensuing kickoff at their 21-yard line, the Cats picked up a first down thanks to a 19-yard run by Chris Johnson, but the Cats lost four and three yards on the next two rushes to create a third-and-17 from their own 33.
Bobcat quarterback John Ardoin third-down pass attempt was intercepted by David Crosley, who returned it 48 yards to the Eunice 33-yard line with 10:20 to play in the first half.
The Dragons converted a third-and-five thanks to a 10-yard run by D’Angelo Reder, but two penalties would stall the drive.
On a fourth-and-11 at the Eunice 23, quarterback Robert Lewis had his pass broken up by Eunice safety Travis Godfrey. The Cats took over at their own 23, but were forced to punt after gaining just eight yards on three running attempts.
Hebert’s punt travelled 38 yards, but was returned 40 yards by Demark Watts to set up the DeRidder offense with a first-and-ten at the Eunice 29-yard line.
The Bobcat defense stepped up to force two runs for minus one yards apiece, forcing Lewis to pass on third-and-12 from 31. Junior linebacker Ajyh Johnson at the Eunice 24 to halt the drive.
The Bobcat offense turned the ball back over to the Dragons when Godfrey’s pass was intercepted and returned to the Eunice 40-yard line.
On first down, the Bobcats stopped run by Lewis. Lewis was forced to leave the game after being shaken up and was replaced by Stephen Boyd. Boyd fumbled on his first snap and Keithan Green recovered for the Bobcats at the DeRidder 41.
The Cats then put together their only scoring drive of the contest, going 41 yards in seven plays for a touchdown.
Fullback Ty Ceasar carried three times for 16 yards to spark the drive. Godfrey, playing quarterback, added a 10-yard run to put the ball at the one-yard line with 11 seconds left prior to the half. Ceasar scored the touchdown on the next play and
Hebert kicked the PAT to tie the game at 7-7 heading into the half.
Neither team was able to get a first down on their initial possessions of the second half.
The Cats did pick up a first down on their second possession as Hebert, a quarterback, completed a 12-yard pass to Godfrey. But the Cats were unable to sustain the drive and were forced to punt.
Hebert’s 41-yard punt was returned 28 yards by Watts to the Eunice 35 and the Dragons picked up a first down on two rushes by Camron Clark down to the Bobcat 6-yard line.
The Cats’ defensive unit held, however, forcing Erpelding to kick the go-ahead field goal of 32 yards.
Thanks to a personal foul penalty on the kickoff, the Bobcats got the ball at their own 43. Johnson picked up a first down with an 11-yard run, but the Cats were stopped for minus yardage on their next two runs and passes on third and down fell incomplete.
The Dragons would run out the clock over the final two minutes to earn the victory.
The Bobcats finished with six first downs to five for the Dragons.
The Dragons rushed 23 times for 134 yards, including the 80-yard touchdown run.
The Cats finished with 17 rushes for 54 yards.
Goins topped DeRidder with six carries for 92 yards, while Johnson led Eunice with three carries for 31 yards. Hebert had the only two pass completions for the Cats – one for 12 yards and one for minus 11 yards.
The Dragons did not complete a pass in four attempts, with one interception. The Cats had two passes intercepted.
The Bobcats will travel to face the Northwest High Raiders next Thursday to open the regular season.