Bobcats fall to the Hot Springs Trojans 49-14 in first conference road game

The Trojans scored early and often to pull away from the Bobcats 21-0 in the first quarter of the Trojans Homecoming game.

The Bobcats won the coin toss and chose to defer to the second half.   Hot Springs obliged by driving 80 yards in their first possession ending in a 3-yard pass play for the first score of the game.    The Bobcats first possession ended quickly which resulted in a punt.  Trojans scored again with a 13 yd pass play and also later in the last minute of the first quarter with a 47 yd. pass play to increase the lead to 21-0 Trojans.

The Bobcats showed a little spark with a 44-yard kickoff return by Braylin Smith but the drive, due to penalties, stalled on the Bobcats 22-yard line.

Hot Springs scored two quick touchdowns on a 67 yd. punt return and a 37-yard TD run increasing their lead to 35-0.

With 5:19 remaining in the 2nd quarter, QB Austin Courtney connected with Braylen Smith for the Cats first score of the game with a 49 yd. TD pass cutting the lead to 35-7.

The Trojans closed out the first half scoring with a 15 yd. rushing touchdown with 2:51 remaining. The score was 42-7 Trojans at halftime.

Hope took the 3rd quarter kickoff in a spectacular 82-yard kick-off return by Noah Cheatham, out running three Trojans who had angles on him for the kickoff touchdown.  Extra point was good, making the score 42-14 starting the 2nd half.

The Trojans immediately bounced back with a rushing TD extending the lead once more at 14-49.

With the clock running continuously for the entire 4th quarter there was no more scoring by either team.  The game ended with the final score of 49 to 14 Hot Springs.

Hot Springs’ record with the convincing conference win improved to (4-1) overall and (2-0) conference play.

Bobcats record fell to (1-4) overall and (0-2) in the 5-A South conference.

The Bobcats return home for next week’s conference match-up with Little Rock Parkview who defeated DeQueen Friday night 52-6.