Ashdown jumped out to an early 6-0 lead in the first quarter, after a would-be INT was nullified due to a defensive penalty, Ashdown would score a couple of plays later for the first points of the game. It was a struggle all night for offenses to find any sort of rhythm as both defenses played very well. Tamorien Lindsey would get the Bobcats on the board in the second quarter as he busted a TD run. Joshua Ramos would knock through the PAT to put the Bobcats ahead 7-6.
With Hope clinging to a 7-6 lead at the half, Tyler Patterson found Issac Love for a TD in the third quarter. This is Patterson and Love’s second TD connection in as many games. Ramos would bury the PAT to extend the lead to 14-6.
Fast-forwarding to halfway through the fourth quarter as Hope’s defense continued to dominate the game, the Bobcats had a mishap on a special-teams play that put the Panthers in great field position. The Panthers would punch in the TD to make the score 14-12. The Bobcats would swarm to the runner and bring him down about a foot short of the endzone on the conversion attempt to keep the score 14-12. Ashdown would get the ball back late in the fourth with a chance for the win. Richard Cunningham mad another great play on third down to force a fourth down. On fourth down, Sidney Ross would make a play and sack the QB to end the Panthers chance at a victory.
Defensively, Richard Cunningham had a great game with 5 sacks and 8 tackles. KD Gulley once again filled the stat sheet up with 11 tackles and a couple of pass break-ups. Juan Ortiz had another good game at LB with 6 tackles. Donovan Jones, Jakobi Scott, and Kamron Walton each had 5 tackles. Offensively, Tyler Patterson threw for 142 yards and 1 TD, Issac Love hauled in 4 passes for 38 yards and a TD. Zyun Brown had 32 yards receiving, Jay Monk with 28, and KD Gulley caught a pass for 34 yards. Tamorien Lindsey had 139 yards rushing with a TD and 20 receiving. Joshua Ramos was 2/2 on PATs. Hope (1-1) will have its opener against Prescott (2-1) Friday. Kickoff at 7PM.
Photos by Brianna Maclaughlin