Jeb Sharp

The Troy Messenger

Opp couldn’t overcome a stagnant first half as they fell on the road to the Pike County Bulldogs 19-8 on Friday night.

The Bulldogs held the Bobcats scoreless in a first half, which saw Opp move the ball consistently downfield but fail to find the scoreboard.

After the game, Opp head football coach Jack Whigham said his team did not play up to its potential. “We made too many mistakes to win the game,” Whigham said. “In the first half, penalties and turnovers killed our drives. We just didn’t make the plays we needed to.”

The Bobcats found success running the ball on their opening drive of the game. OHS quarterback Ethan Davis and running back Ty White exploited running lanes opened up by the Bobcat offensive line.

Opp pushed into Bulldog territory, as far as the Pike County 18-yard line, but a fourth-down Orlando Lacey pass fell incomplete, and the Bobcats turned the ball over on downs.

Pike County drove the ball methodically downfield on their ensuing possession. On the first play of the second quarter, PCHS QB Jerrell Lawson connected with Stevie Smiley on a 7-yard drag route for the game’s opening score. A missed extra point gave the Bulldogs a 6-0 lead.

Once again, Opp was able to move the ball into Bulldog territory, but miscues cost the Bobcats. Two procedure penalties stalled the drive at the Pike County 30. The Bobcats turned the ball over on downs when Davis’s pass to Eli Johnson fell incomplete.

Opp once again moved the ball into Bulldog territory, but a White fumble gave Pike County the ball back at its 27 yard line.

The Bulldogs capitalized on the turnover when Lawson connected with Smiley again on a 13-yard slant. The 2-point conversion failed, and PCHS took a 12-0 lead in to the half.

The Bobcats showed a little more fire in the second half. Opp drove the ball 72 yards on the opening possession of the second half for a touchdown. Senior Justin Adkins skied over two Pike County defenders to come down with a Davis pass for an 11-yard score. A failed extra point cut the lead to 12-6.

The Bobcat defense forced the Bulldogs in to a quick three-and-out, but the Opp offense was unable to move the ball.

On the Bobcats’ punt, DeWayne Bonam tackled Pike County return-man Cory Batie at the Bulldog 7.

On the next play, Jaiquan Wade burst through the Pike County offensive line and sacked Lawson for a safety to trim the Bulldog lead to 12-8.

Opp went three-and-out on its next possession. Pike County drove the ball to the Bobcat 3-yard line on its next possession.

On third-and-goal, Quantavise Stoudemire stuffed Bulldog running back Lamarcus Adair for a loss of 1 yard. On fourth-and-goal, Stoudemire sacked Lawson to keep the Bulldogs in the game.

Opp was unable to capitalize on the momentum shift, however. The Bobcats’ next drive ended with Batie intercepting a Davis pass.

Pike running back Lamarcus Adair scored on the Bulldogs’ next drive on a 23-yard option to give the Bulldogs a 19-8 lead.

The Bobcats would try to mount a comeback but, when Smiley intercepted a Lacey pass, Opp’s fate was sealed.

Opp will look to bounce back when it travels to Fayette County for the first round of the playoffs.