Bobcats lose their first conference match up to the De Queen Leopards

HOPE – Hope Bobcats Homecoming was spoiled by the De Queen Leopards in Hammons Stadium Friday Night 56-25 in a penalty riddled ballgame.

The Bobcats won the coin toss but deferred to the second half.

Leopards took the opening possession and drove to the Bobcats 6-yard line where the drive stalled.

Hope took over on downs but went 4 and out and had to punt. Bobcats scored on their 2nd possession of the game on an exciting pass play from QB Trey Hoglund to Noah Cheatham for a 90-yard TD. Extra point was good by Quante Francisco for an early Bobcat lead of 7-0.

Second quarter was vastly different as De Queen came back to score on two consecutive possessions, scoring 14 points. The second quarter lasted nearly 1 hour with numerous penalties called on both teams.

Bobcats scored on TD pass & catch Hoglund to Devante Jones with 1:25 remaining in the 2nd quarter to cut the lead to 21-13 with missed extra point. The Leopards scored again with 51 seconds left in the 2nd quarter, to take a 28 to 13 lead into halftime.

Bobcats opened up the 2nd half with another long pass play this time Austin Courtney to Jaiden Brown for a 67-yard TD cutting the lead to 28-19 but the try for 2 failed. De Queen answered with a long rushing TD with 3:42 remaining in the 3rd quarter increasing the lead to 35 to 19.

Later in the third quarter, another exciting play, Trey Hoglund passed to Devante Jones for a 73 yd pass play cutting the lead to 10 pts at 35 to 25 with 2 minutes left in the 3rd quarter. Try for 2 failed.

The Leopards matched the Cats score with another rushing TD extending the De Queen lead at 42 to 25 entering into the 4th quarter.

The 4th quarter saw Leopards score on a 92-yard rushing TD making the score of 49-25 with 7:07 time remaining in the game.

De Queen closed out the scoring with a rushing TD with 1:55 left in the game making the final score of the game 56 to 25 Leopards over the Bobcats. Bobcats season record is (1-3) overall record and (0-1) in the conference.

Stats for the Bobcats in the conference opening game: Trey Hoglund 7-15 passing for 195 yards, 3 TD’s & 1 Int.
Austin Courtney 7/17 passing got 119 yds & 1 TD.
Receiving: Noah Cheatham 2 catches for 91 yds & 1 TD. Devante Jones 4 for 94 yds and 1 TD. Deonte Williams 1 catch for 17 yds & 1
TD. Jaiden Brown 7/112 yds & 1 TD. Passing total yards of 386 yards with with 14/32 passes, 4 TD’s & 1 Int.
Defensively: Joel Bello 4 tackles; J.J. Gulley 14 tackles, 1 Tackle for loss and 1 fumble recovery. Kelsom White 13 tackles; Noah Cheatham 9 tackles & Brayden Messer 7 tackles and 1 TFL.
Bobcats had 15 penalties for a total of 115 yds. De Queen had 10 penalties for 75 yds.

Bobcats are on the road to play the Hot Springs Trojans next week. Trojans beat L.R. Parkview 23-20 Friday night.