Final drive falls short for Bobcats

By Staff
Bart Moss For the FCT
BEAR CREEK – It was the first time in over 20 years that Phil Campbell and Phillips had met each other on the gridiron and it was a night the Bobcats would rather forget.
Phillips used a balanced offensive attack and took advantage of three Bobcat turnovers to win 12-6.
Phillips gained 119 yards on the ground and 109 yards through the air in route to the win.
Phil Campbell piled up 147 yards on the ground but could only muster up 62 yards through the air. The Bobcats could never stretch the field with any deep threat and threw two interceptions.
With the loss of starting quarterback Jonathan Dill, the Bobcats had been forced into a two quarterback system with Paxton Rice and Stephen Lacey last week. Midway through the second quarter the Bobcats lost Rice to an injury on a blindside block in the back. Lacey was forced to shoulder the load under center.
"We are a depleted team right now," said Phil Campbell coach Kelly Kiser. "We lost Jonathan two weeks ago and we lost Paxton early in the game tonight. It just keeps limiting what we can do.
"We can still have a good season. We just have to keep plugging away and not give up."
Phillips scored first on their first drive of the game when Adam McCarley hit Josh Green on a 41-yard touchdown pass to make the score 6-0. The PAT was no good.
Midway through the second quarter a 47-yard punt return by Trent Brannon gave the Bears good field position that set up their next score. The Bears scored their second touchdown on a halfback pass from Craig Wilson to Scott Sutherland for the 13-yard score.
Phil Campbell got their lone score on a 22-yard run by Josh McCarley.
The Bobcats threatened to score with less than two minutes to go in the game moving the ball down to the Bears five-yard line. A fumble on fourth and goal stopped the drive and sealed the win for the Bears.
Phil Campbell will host Cherokee for homecoming next week.