The Bogue Chitto Bobcats (3-3) crushed the St. Patrick Fighting Irish Friday night by a final score of 40-20.

The Bobcats came out strong to start the game, racking up 13 points to the Irish’s six. Bogue Chitto kept the pressure up on St. Patrick in the second half only allowing the Irish to score one touchdown.

“We played good tonight,” Bobcat senior Brandon Lewis said. “Coach Sartin broke down what would happen and we were able to get in the right places. We had been working on their shifting in practice and we knew where the ball was going to be at.”

The Bobcats’ first offensive play of the game started on the 35-yard line and didn’t fair too well as the Irish forced Bogue Chitto to punt the ball away.

Bogue Chitto got a second try as they forced the Irish to fumble the punt return and recovered the loose ball. Bobcat junior quarterback Shaw King scored the game’s first touchdown on a five-yard scramble.

With two minutes left in the first quarter, St. Patrick managed to punch the ball into the endzone, but missed the PAT.

“We played pretty good tonight,” Bogue Chitto senior Bryce Langley said. “We made a few good catches and played good on defense.”

Moving the ball through the air, the Bobcats put themselves in good field possession for their second touchdown. Langley would score on an 18-yard run.

Trailing 13-6 going into the second quarter, St. Patrick found the endzone as they forced a fumble and returned it for a 35-yard touchdown.

The Irish would go for two-point conversion and were successful to take their only lead of the game.

Following the kickoff, Bogue Chitto was sitting at the 38-yard line. Receiving the handoff, sophomore Owen Anderson busted through the Irish for a 53-yard gain.

Back-to-back penalties, committed by both teams, set the Bobcats up for a 13-yard touchdown run by sophomore Reid Smith to take a 19-14 lead into halftime.

Bogue Chitto opened the second half going for an on-sides kick and recovering. The Bobcats then scored off a run by Langley.

The Bobcats’ defense stood tall following the touchdown to prevent the Irish from getting into the endzone from the 29-yard line.

Bogue Chitto mixed up their play calling to march down the field and soon found the endzone off a 7-yard run by Anderson.

The Bobcats would score once again, after forcing the Irish to turn the ball over on downs, off a 20-yard run by King to lead 40-14.

St. Patrick finally found the endzone once again as time was ticking on a 27-yard run by sophomore quarterback Adam Ritter, for their final score of the contest.

Bogue Chitto went on to win by a final score of 40-20.

“We had a few mistakes in the first half that kind of hurt us,” Bobcats coach Gareth Sartin said. “Second half we really played well. The offensive line did a really good job of setting the tone. Being able to run and pass the ball makes it tough to stop us. Defensively we gave up one offensive touchdown but I thought we did a good job of tackling and playing our assignments. I’m real proud of the kids and it’s a good win as we get ready to head into district play.”

Bogue Chitto will host Loyd Star in district action Friday at 7 p.m.

Story by Dave Linton