After Orangefield’s initial struggle to move the ball, Shepherd started the game with a handoff and a break up the middle for the first touchdown of the game. Orangefield followed this up with a couple of handoffs to chip away the yards before handing of to Chase Broussard for a long run that put them just short of the goal. The Bobcats followed this with a handoff to Blake Bradley that put them in the perfect position to push the ball into the end zone. With the ball at the 2 yard line, Mason Gonzales ran the quarterback keeper and brought the ball in for the touchdown followed by the extra point kicked by Derick Glaze. This left the score at 7-7.
Leading into the second quarter the score would remain 7-7 thanks to some big plays by the bobcat’s defense that included a huge tackle by Broussard, and a pass attempt broken up by Quy Tsan. The drive was started with a SAC by Blake Bradley which led Shepherd to punt. After receiving, the bobcats started from the pirate’s 26-yard line with a pitch to Kade Grozier who ran for a 19-yard gain. After a hand off and a quarter back keeper that left them at 3rd and goal the bobcats handed the ball off to Bradley who ran the ball up the middle for the touchdown. With Glaze’s extra point, the bobcats lead 14-7.
The defense stepped up again on the pirates return when Tsan forced a fumble that was recovered by Kent Michael. After a few handoffs the bobcat’s punted and Shepherd started their next drive with 1st and 10 on the 20-yard line but due to the Bobcats defense, wasn’t able to move the ball enough to score. This was followed by a quiet drive by the bobcat’s that resulted in a turnover on down.
Starting with the ball on the 49-yard line Shepherd was stopped by Bradley at the line of scrimmage leaving them at 2nd and 18. With a handoff, Michael came through with a huge stop that left the Pirates with only a 1-yard gain. Making a touchdown saving tackle, Choate stepped up and stopped the breakaway. After a few small yard gains, Shepherd dropped back to make a pass only for it to be intercepted by Choate in the end zone for a touchback. This play ended the 2nd.
The 3rd quarter started off relatively quiet until Orangefield’s Tsan fought through for a huge run. The bobcat’s followed this run with a couple of yard chipping handoffs and a quarter back keeper until they had worked themselves to 1st and goal from the 4-yard line. From here the quarter back keeper by Mason Gonzales lead the Bobcats to the touchdown. Followed by this, Shepherd worked on their handoff game only to be shut down by Orangefield. Notable stops came from Tripp Leger, Bradley, Choate, and Tsan. This quiet drive left the score at 20-7 Orangefield going into the 4th.
With the 4th came a drive from Shepherd that proved a little more difficult for the bobcats to stop. After a handoff for 1st and 10 followed by a long run from Shepherd for another 1st down, Lane Rach stepped up with a huge momentum shifting tackle at the line of scrimmage. After the following play was shut down by Choate, the Pirates stepped back to attempt the pass game that resulted in two incomplete passes that resulted in a turnover on downs with 9:45 left in the 4th. After a couple of good runs by Grozier, Puckett, and Tsan the bobcats attempted a handoff to Bradley which resulted in a fumble that Shepherd recovered. Despite the mistake, the bobcat’s defense stepped up lead by Rach who stopped the ball on the line leaving the Pirates at 2nd and 8. After an incomplete pass broken up by Puckett the pirates completed a pass but remained short of the 1st down and punted from the 32. With only 3:06 left in the 4th, the Bobcats worked their hand offs for some gained yards and a quarter back keeper for a long carry before kneeling and ending the game.
The game ended with the bobcat’s win of 20-7.
-Kylie Bradley, KOGT-
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