Bobcats outlast Midfield in thrilling region game
The Phil Campbell Bobcats secured a crucial region win Friday night, defeating the visiting Midfield Patriots 36-26. The Patriots made the two-hour trip from downtown Birmingham only to run into a determined Phil Campbell offense led by quarterback Hayston Scott.
The scoring started immediately. Scott broke free in the first quarter, sprinting 42 yards for the game’s opening touchdown. He then followed up with a two-point conversion pass to Hagen Raper to make the score 8-0.
However, Midfield quickly answered with a perfectly placed 27-yard pass into the back of the endzone.
The second quarter saw the scoreboard light up in rapid succession. Midfield took its first lead at 12-8, but the Bobcats quickly responded. Scott linked up with Raper again, this time for a 13-yard touchdown pass.The successful PAT run by Braxton Downey put Phil Campbell back on top, 16-12.
The lead changed hands twice more in the second quarter, including a 62-yard Midfield run that put the Patriots up 18-16. But the Bobcats had the final say before halftime.
Scott regained the lead for Phil Campbell with a powerful 35-yard touchdown run. Just moments later, Austin Elliott provided the biggest blow of the night, sprinting untouched up the middle for a 42-yard touchdown that extended the Bobcats advantage to 30-18 entering
the locker room.
CONTRIBUTED/BART MOSS
Landon Hibner snaps ball to Hayston Scott.
The defenses took center stage in the third quarter with neither team able to push across any points in a scoreless period.
The Patriots mounted a comeback attempt early in the fourth, cutting the lead to 30-26 with a 16-yard run. But once again, Scott proved too much, delivering the final, decisive touchdown run to seal the 36-26 victory.
Scott finished the night with 17 carries for 149 yards and three rushing touchdowns. He was also efficient through the air, completing four of six passes for 46 yards and a scoring strike. Braxton Downey provided key balance in the run game, carrying the ball 18 times for 98 yards.
Defensively, Cody Snead led the Bobcats with 10 tackles on the night.
Phil Campbell will look to carry this momentum into their next contest as they travel to Carbon Hill on Friday for another important region matchup.
In other games around the county:
• Red Bay beat Tupelo Christian 36-8. The Tigers host Tharptown this week.
• Tharptown lost to Tanner 63-6. The Wildcats travel to Red Bay this week.
• Vina lost to Hackleburg 42-0. The Red Devils will travel to Waterloo this week.
