Hope takes tough loss to Panthers

HOPE- The Hope Bobcats took a tough loss Friday night to the Ashdown Panthers. The game started with the Bobcats kicking off to the Panthers and the ball being placed on the 20 yard line, with a few short plays and a blocked punt on fourth down the Bobcats took over getting good field position. The Bobcats did not have much going for offense during their first couple possessions of the game. Panthers took advantage of a pass into the end zone for the first touchdown of the game. During the Bobcats third possession of the game, Quarterback Hunter Hellums took a shot up the middle with a 55 yard run, a 26 yard field goal was then attempted but blocked by Panthers defense causing a turnover.

The turnover cost the Bobcats a touchdown that brought the Panthers score 14-0 to start the second quarter. After the kickoff Ammorrion Dempsey, had a 10 yard gain earning the first down for the Bobcats. Hellums then completed a pass to Davis for the first Bobcat Touchdown making the score 14-7. Bobcats carried over with momentum achieving back to back defensive plays causing the Panthers to then punt. Hellums then had a passing play where the ball was knocked away by a defender and bounced off another defender and into the hands of the Bobcats to score a touchdown tying the game at 14. The Panthers then came back from the kickoff with a touchdown for a 20-14 lead. With slow starts for several plays and confusion from the Bobcats the Panthers went into halftime with a 40-14 lead.

Coming back from the half, Corey Lewis with the Bobcats secured a turnover and Hellums had a running gain from the Panther 48 yard line to Bobcats 38 yard line. With serval slow plays the Panthers took over at their own 40 yard line. With a delay of game penalty, the Panthers were able to make another touchdown. The mercy rule came into effect and the clock continued to run throughout the rest of the game. The Panthers won over the Bobcats with the final score, 61-14.