Bobcats fall in shoot out 48-43

PHIL CAMPBELL — For the second week in a row the Phil Campbell football team had a change to drive for the game-winning score in the closing minute of the game and for the second week in a row the drive ended with an interception as Lamar County held off the Bobcats for a 48-43 win.

Both teams scored early and often in a game that featured 10 lead changes.

Phil Campbell quarterback Corey Alexander had a pair of touchdown passes in the first quarter, including a 40-yard strike to Jordan Benford and a 48-yard touchdown pass to Dylan Rice, to give the Bobcats a 14-12 lead.

Alexander hit Jake Dill for a 6-yard touchdown pass and Craig Saint added a 4-yard scoring run in the second quarter to give Phil Campbell a 28-26 advantage at halftime.

The Bobcats (1-2, 0-2) added another score in the third quarter. Benford recovered a live ball on a botched punt return by Lamar County (2-1, 2-0) to give Phil Campbell a first down at the Bulldog 20-yard line.

Alexander hit Benford with a 20-yard touchdown pass, but the joy was short lived as Lamar County returned the ensuing kick off 86 yards for a touchdown.

Lamar County later returned an interception for a touchdown to put the Bulldogs ahead 40-36.

Phil Campbell regained the lead with 5:52 remaining in the game when Alexander found Rice for a 59-yard scoring pass to put the Bobcats up 43-40. Lamar County scored about four minutes later.

Jamie Dorroh took the ensuing kick off to the Bobcat 40-yard line and Phil Campbell was able to drive to the Lamar County 32-yard line before Alexander’s pass was picked off.

Alexander finished the night with 395 passing yards, five touchdowns and a pair of interceptions.

Rice caught seven passes for 202 yard and a pair of touchdowns while Benford caught four passes for 95 yards and two touchdowns.

Phil Campbell travels to Hatton next week.