The Loyd Star Hornets are thanking the Good Lord above that the first play of the game was not a sign of things to come as they defeated the Bogue Chitto Bobcats 42-30 in the Possum Bowl Friday night.

On the opening kickoff, senior Zack Baker returned the ball to the 31-yard line, but medical personnel had to be summoned to examine an injured knee. The Hornets took the opening possession 69 yards to pay dirt culminated by an eight-yard Dane Smith to Zabien Price pass.  Cole Carpenter would nail the point after kick and the Hornets were off and running.

The Bobcats would take their opening possession 70 yards for a touchdown with Shaw King threading the needle to Brandon Lewis for a 20-yard score. The Bobcats tacked on the two-point conversion with a King-to-Owen-Anderson pass and the Bobcats led 8-7.

The Hornets answered with a 60-yard drive ending with a Zach Nevels 25-yard TD run.  The Hornets lined up for the two-point conversion and Smith found Price.  The scoreboard at Troy Smith Field was looking as if they may have to change the bulbs before the game ended. However the first half would end without either team scoring again.

Bogue Chitto started with possession the second half which would start at their own 25. The Cats moved the ball into Hornet territory before turning the ball over on downs.  The Hornets took over on their own 47 and scored on a 53-yard drive. Smith hit Price again for a 25-yard score and Carpenter split the uprights making the score 22-8.

Bogue Chitto scored on their next possession with Owen Anderson taking it in from 12 yards out.  King hit Anderson for the two-point conversion making it 22-16. The Hornets then went on a tear to score 20 unanswered points.  Eric Birch scored the first TD from 41 yards out. And the Hornets led 28-16. 

Loyd Star used an onside kick to take possession on the 50-yard line following the Birch score. They quickly scored on a 50-yard touchdown pass from Smith to Jamereo Clay that ricochet off the hands of a Bobcat defender and fell into the waiting arms of Clay.

The next Loyd Star scoring drive covered 76 yards and was capped by Versie Wilson on a 12-yard run.

The Bobcats wouldn’t quit.  The Cats scored on their next possession which started on the BC 37 and would be a two-play, 63-yard scoring drive.  Shaw King hooked up with Anderson on a 60-yard pass and the PAT failed. Bogue Chitto later scored when King hit Brandon Lewis for a 55-yard touchdown pass. 

“We hurt ourselves early with mistakes and turnovers,” said Loyd Star coach Brian Ford. “We played hard.  We knew we were in for a dogfight.” 

Bogue Chitto coach Gareth Sartin was proud of how hard his team continued to fight until the end.

“We couldn’t stop their running game,” said Ford. “That was the difference. On offense we had some big plays, but also gave up some.”

Story by Ricky Myers