HOMECOMING VICTORY

Published 12:43 am Saturday, October 25, 2014

1025 spt-OPP

Reggie Thompson runs the ball in for a touchdown during the Bobcats’ 40-22 homecoming victory over Cottage Hill. With the win, the Bobcats finished with a perfect region record. | Josh Dutton/Star-News

Opp slams Cottage Hill, 40-22

The Opp Bobcats pounded the Cottage Hill Warriors 40-22 at Channell-Lee Stadium to remain undefeated in region play.

Raheem Bonam scored first for the Bobcats on a 33-yard run on their opening possession. Bonam rushed for 216 yards and three touchdowns on the night.

The Warriors’ first drive ended with the Bobcats blocking a 45-yard field goal attempt.

Bonam flashed his speed again a few drives later, when he took one in from 62 yards out to give the Bobcats a 14-0 lead.

The Warriors tacked points on the board when Durrell Williams hauled in a 25-yard touchdown pass from Cole Butler. With the extra point the Warriors trailed 14-7.

On the Bobcats’ first possession of the second half, Hennis Washington showed that he also has the speed to break a long run. Washington got a few blocks, made a few moves, broke a tackle and then raced 72 yards for the touchdown. The two-point conversion gave the Bobcats a 22-7 lead.

The Warriors’ Justin Henderson fielded the ensuing kickoff at the 11-yard line and took it 89 yards up the middle of the field for a touchdown, and with the two-point conversion the Bobcats held a 7-point advantage.

The Bobcats answered right back with a strong eight-play, 65-yard drive that Bonam capped off with a 1-yard touchdown, for his third touchdown of the night.

After the Bobcats defense forced a turnover-on-downs, the offense went right back to work driving the ball down the field, and this time it was quarterback Reggie Thompson scoring the touchdown. Thompson juked and jived his way to a 9-yard touchdown run to give the Bobcats a 34-15 lead.

The Bobcats’ defense came up big once more when Washington picked off a tipped pass from Butler and then went 55 yards down the home sideline for the touchdown, and a 40-14 Bobcat lead.

Butler and the Warriors added one more score when he connected with Henderson for a 26-yard touchdown.

“I’ve got to give Cottage Hill credit they got after us in the first half, but we took care of business in the second half,” said Bobcats’ head coach Brent Hill. “I’m really proud of the way our kids finished strong tonight.”

With the win Opp improves to 7-2 overall and 6-0 in region play. Opp will host Elba next Friday night for the regular season finale.