Bobcats run past Panthers

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PINE PRAIRIE – The Eunice High Bobcats and the Pine Prairie Panthers made use of effective rushing attacks in a 5-3A showdown Friday night at Panther Stadium.
Both teams struggled in the early going with each team turning over the football on fumbles.
The Bobcat fumble came at the 40-yard line in Panther territory, but the Bobcats got a break when the Panthers fumbled and the Cats recovered at the Panther 46-yard line.
It took the Bobcats five plays to score as Dameon Frank ran five yards for the score, with 1:35 left in the first quarter.
The Cats missed the PAT try, but held a 6-0 lead. Trevin Ceaser carried the ball three times for 31 yards to set up the touchdown.
The Panthers picked up some quick yardage on three rushes by Jerodd Sims to move into Eunice territory, but a fumbled snap was recovered by the Bobcats to set them up at the Panther 45-yard line.
Eunice junior running back Avery Lee topped off the touchdown drive with as six-yard run and Austin Phillips kicked the PAT to put the Bobcats on top by a 13-0 margin with 8:53 remaining in the first half.
The Panthers returned the kickoff to their own 35, but a pass attempt by quarterback Brian Ardoin was intercepted by Ja’Vondre Edwards, giving the Bobcats the football in their own territory with 7:12 left in the opening half.
The Cats drove the ball down the field behind the running of Deon Ardoin, but a holding penalty set the Cats back, with Eunice leading 13-0 at the half.
The Panthers took the second half kickoff and drove down the field in four plays to score a touchdown.
Sims had a run of 46 yards and Darrian Hayes capped the drive with a 22-yard run.
The PAT failed, but the Panthers had cut the lead to 13-6.
A fired up Panther squad stopped the Bobcats on their next series, forcing a punt. Sims took the punt and returned it 65 yards for a touchdown to tie the score at 13-13 with 8:16 left in the third quarter.
The Bobcats responded on the kickoff with Frank returning it 15 yards. The Bobcats made the drive of the game at that point, driving 40 yards on 14 plays to score on a one-yard run by Brasseaux with 1:18 left in the third quarter. Ardoin, Ceaser, and Bailey Richardson had key carries for the Bobcats on the scoring drive. Phillips kicked the PAT to put the Cats ahead 20-13. The Panthers picked up two first downs on their next possession, but the Bobcat defense held them on a fourth-and-seven to get the ball back to their offense. The Bobcats gave themselves some leeway with 7:38 remaining on the clock when Brasseaux teamed with Jordan Ledet on a 44-yard scoring pass. Phillips kicked the PAT to give the Bobcats a 27-13 lead.
The Panthers didn’t quit, however, as they put together a drive that put them inside the Eunice 10-yard line. But the Bobcats defense kept the Panthers out of the end zone, turning the ball over to their offense with less than six minutes left in the game. The Bobcat ran out the clock with the help of a Brasseaux pass to Lee that covered 11 yards, picking up a first down in the process.