What looked like an easy cruise to victory for Bogue Chitto (4-1) on Friday night turned into a mad-dash to the final horn as the Bobcats held on to a 22-20 win over the St. Patrick Fighting Irish (2-3) on the road.

With 11 minutes remaining in the game Bogue Chitto led 22-6 after a Damarcus Godbolt seven-yard TD run. The Bobcats led 14-6 at halftime behind a first quarter rushing touchdown by quarterback Trey Nettles and a 24-yard touchdown pass from Nettles to Zach Upkins.

St. Patrick, 2-0 at home on the season, would begin their comeback with 6:04 remaining in the game when they used a rushing TD and subsequent 2-point conversion to cut the lead to 22-12.

The Fighting Irish would quickly regain possession of the ball after a successful onside kick and would cut deeper into the Bogue Chitto lead with a Carson Bishop to Logan Young touchdown pass that came just 28 seconds after the last St. Pat’s score. After another successful 2-point conversion St. Patrick now trailed just 22-20.

Bogue Chitto was able to recover the ensuing onside kick, but would be forced to punt the ball back to the Fighting Irish. Now playing in the defensive secondary, Nettles would seal the win by picking off an Irish pass near midfield with 1:50 remaining in the game.

“They are a good team and run a triple option that you don’t see very often, so I was proud of the job our defense did tonight,” said Bogue Chitto head coach Garreth Sartin. “Malik Richardson and Zach Upkins made some really big catches for us tonight in situations where we needed someone to make a play,” said Sartin.

Bogue Chitto begins region play next Friday night as they travel to Loyd Star for a 7 p.m. kickoff in the renewal of the Possum Bowl rivalry.