Published: September 04, 2009 11:55 pm      

Bobcats get Huckabay first win; 34-17 over Buna

BUNA — Leads in the first two weeks of the Orangefield Bobcats’ season have been as hard to hold onto as a greased pigskin. After failing to hold onto a 14-point lead last week, the Bobcats overcame a 10-point Buna Cougars lead to rally for 34-17 win at Cougar Stadium Friday night.

The football game was the fiftieth meeting between Orangefield and Buna, with the victory the Bobcats lead the series 25-23-2. The game was as close as the series has been up to the final three minutes.

Buna (1-1) took the opening kickoff and put the first points on the board. Robert Holden took the ball on the first play from scrimmage and rambled for a 29-yard gain to the Bobcats’ 26. Jacob Craft cut loose for 10 yards on the next play for a Buna first down.

Orangefield’s defense stiffened. Craft was thrown for a 2-yard loss. The Bobcats’ Parker James made a stellar knockdown of a pass in the end zone that looked initially like six points for the Cougars. Lynn Williams then booted a 37-yard field goal to give the Cougars a 3-0 lead with just over two minutes played.

On its first possession, Orangefield (1-1) asserted its ball control offense. Twelve plays saw the Bobcats rush ten times and throw only two passes. Six different Bobcats carried the football good for 59 yards.

The Bobcats had a first down at the Buna 28. Three runs got the ball to the 20 before a procedure penalty moved the Bobcats back to the 25. On fourth down Corey Huckabay faked the run and threw a perfect pass to Luke Gunstream in the end zone. Six points failed to materialize as the ball fell incomplete.

Buna quickly upped its lead on the next possession. Two rushes netted 12 yards. Craft carried on the first down and first went up the middle, then cut to his right, got a good block from a Buna end, and sprinted down the sideline for a 63-yard touchdown. Williams’ point-after made the score 10-0 with 2:46 to play in the first quarter.

The Cougars’ lead began to slip away just two minutes later. Orangefield took the ensuing kickoff and needed just four plays to score. Quarterback Huckabay made a brilliant fake and then streaked around right end for a 45-yard touchdown. The subsequent kick was wide right, but the Bobcats were back in the game trailing only 10-6 with 46 seconds left in the first period.

That lead last until 2:53 to play in the half. Orangefield took the ball at its 21 following a punt. Six running plays including a 21-yard scamper by Josh Shores gave the Bobcats a first down at the Buna 23. After no gain on first down, Huckabay again used excellent play action and tossed the pigskin to Kyle Fontenot behind the Buna secondary for a 23-yard touchdown. Derrick Evans added the extra point to give Orangefield the lead 13-10.

Buna then found it difficult to hold on to the football as a fumbled snap on the first play after the kickoff was recovered by Orangefield at the Cougars’ 34. Seven running plays garnered three first downs and eventually six points as Rylan Cook scored from 5 yards out. Evans put the Bobcats’ 20th straight point on the board for a 20-10 lead just before half time.

After a booming punt by the Cougars’ Dylan Smith pinned the Bobcats back their own 15, Orangefield executed perhaps its best drive of the night. Huckabay completed a key 17-yard completion to Fontenot who made a sensational leaping catch for the first down. Keeping the ball on the ground the Bobcats moved to the Cougars’ 39.

Evans blew through a hole and glided 39 yards for the touchdown on the first play of the fourth quarter. With the point-after Orangefield took a 17-point lead.

Not throwing in the towel, Buna answered back with a 14-play, 78-yard drive of its own. Josh Clark threw 42 yards to Craft for the biggest play of the drive. Defensive pass interference against the Bobcats gave Buna a first-and-goal at the 10.

A procedure penalty on fourth-and-one seemed to foil the Cougars’ effort. On fourth down from the 6, Clark rolled right and drilled a pass into the chest of Scott Edwards who clutched the ball for the touchdown. Williams successfully cut the Bobcats lead to 27-17 with 3:43 to play in the game.

An onside kick by Buna was recovered by Orangefield giving the Bobcats good field position at their own 43. Huckabay broke loose on a 30-yard option. Chase Parker then closed out the scoring with a darting run of 24 yards for the touchdown.

Orangefield plays its first home game of the season next Friday against Liberty.



Buna 17

Orangefield 34



Buna 10 0 0 7 — 17

OF 6 14 0 14 — 34

Scoring summary

B-Lynn Williams 37 field goal.

B-Jacob Craft 63 run. Williams kick.

OF-Corey Huckabay 45 run. Kick failed.

OF-Kyle Fontenot 23 pass from Huckabay. Derrick Evans kick.

OF-Rylan Cook 5 run. Evans kick.

OF-Evans 39 run. Evans kick.

B-Scott Edwards 6 pass from Josh Clark. Williams kick.

OF-Chase Parker 24 run. Evans kick.

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Buna OF

First downs 12 19

Rushes-yards 32-189 53-368

Passing 63 40

Comp-Att-Int 3-5-0 2-5-0

Fumbles-Lost 4-2 1-0

Penalties-Yards 7-65 3-25



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INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING—Buna, Jacob Craft 9-105, Robert Holden 7-37, Lynn Williams 4-27, Ethan Chandler 4-23, Keaton Baker 1-2, Shelby McCauley 2-2, Josh Clark 4-1, Kale Terrier 1-(-8); Orangefield, Corey Huckabay 15-130, Derrick Evans 5-79, Chase Parker 7-48, Josh Shores 4-41, Evan Guidry 10-33, Rylan Cook 10-28, Quinton Evans 2-9.

PASSING— Buna, Josh Clark 3-5-0 63; Orangefield, Corey Huckabay 2-5-0 40.

RECEIVING—Buna, Jacob Craft 2-57, Scott Edwards 1-6; Orangefield, Kyle Fontenot 2-40.