The Orangefield Bobcats used a 20-point scoring explosion in the third quarter to pull away from the St. Louis Catholic Saints and secure a 41-19 victory Thursday night at Max Caldera Stadium in Westlake, La.
The Bobcats scored first on a 2-yard plunge up the middle by running back Mason Manning to cap an 11-play, four minute drive that covered 64-yards and gave Orangefield a 7-0 lead with 6:08 left in the opening quarter.
The Bobcats defense came up with a fumble recovery on the next Saints possession and took over at the St. Louis 42-yard line. Eight plays later Manning would score on a 1-yard run to put Orangefield up 14-0 on the last play of the quarter.
The Saints were finally able to flip the field position with a 66-yard punt to pin Orangefield deep in its own territory. Forcing a Bobcats punt, the Saints started the next possession at the Orangefield 30-yard line and scored two plays later on a 22-yard touchdown pass to make the score 14-6 Bobcats.
Late in the half, the Saints started its final possession at the Bobcats 41-yard line. The drive stalled at the 9-yard line before the Saints settled for a 26-yard field goal as the Bobcats led 14-9 going into halftime.
The Saints would add a 25-yard field goal midway through the third quarter and looked poised to take control of the game, but that is when Orangefield stepped on the throttle and took control.
Two plays after the Saints field goal, Bobcats quarterback Zach Gonzales hit receiver Rylan McAlpin over the middle, who then shook off a tackler and raced to the end zone for a 79-yard touchdown for a 21-12 Orangefield lead.
Three plays into the next Saints drive, Colton Michael intercepted the ball and gave Orangefield excellent field position at the St. Louis 31-yard line. Manning ripped off a 19-yard run to the 12-yard line and then finished the drive with a 12-yard touchdown run on the following play as Orangefield extended its lead to 27-12 with 2:50 left in the third quarter.
St. Louis was starting to find some rhythm on its next possession until Orangefield linebacker Kaleb Menard stepped in front of a pass for an interception and returned it for 40-yard touchdown and 34-12 lead following Gavin Gravett extra point.
The Saints got back on the scoreboard on the final play of the quarter with an 81-yard kickoff return as the quarter ended with Orangefield ahead, 34-19.
Manning and the Bobcats put the game away midway through the fourth quarter when Manning roared through the Saints defense for his biggest rush of the night for a 31-yard touchdown and the final score.
Orangefield had 374 total yards for the game as Gonzales completed 14 passes in 21 attempts for 218 yards and one touchdown. Manning led the ground game with 138 rushing yards on 24 carries and four touchdowns on the night. McAlpin had two catches for 85 yards and a touchdown, while Kyran Morrow made six receptions for 64 yards.
The Bobcats defense held the Saints to 214 total yards on the night, while securing two interceptions and a fumble recovery.
Orangefield (3-1) hits the road once again next week to begin District 10-3A D1 play against the undefeated Hardin Hornets (4-0). Hardin defeated Tarkington 58-12 on Thursday night.
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