In a battle of unbeaten, the Bobcats defeated the Hillcrest Jaguars 26-21 at home last night in the first region game for both teams.

Opp’s defense set the tone early with Brandon Williams picking off a Jaguar’s pass on the first play from scrimmage for an early edge for Opp.

The Bobcats scored on their first drive on a Hennis Washington 5-yard run.

Up 6-0, the Bobcat defense again picked off a Hillcrest pass and this time it was Raheem Bonam who took it 45 yards to the house and a 12-0 lead just three minutes into the game.

Hillcrest got on the board midway through the first quarter on a 19-yard touchdown pass to cut the lead to 12-7.

Opp’s defense finished out the quarter with a safety, and the Bobcats led 14-7 after one.
Just before the half, Orlando Lacey found the end zone for the first time in the game on a 15 yard run with two and half minutes remaining.

Opp took a 20-7 leading into the break.

The Bobcats were in total control of the game as they marched down the field on their first possession of the second half and scored when Lacey connected with Reggie Thompson for a 21-yard touchdown.

Opp failed on the two-point try for the fourth time in the game but led 26-7.

Hillcrest cut the lead to 11 late in the third with a touchdown pass for a 26-15 Opp lead after three.

The Jaguars took advantage of an Opp turnover in the fourth and cut the lead to just 5 midway through the fourth.

The Bobcats then kept the ball on the ground and eventually ran out the clock to hang on for the win 26-21.
Orlando Lacey carried the ball 22 times for 143 and a touchdown to lead the Bobcat ground game. Lacey also completed 12 for 20 for 91 yards passing a touchdown.

Reggie Thompson caught three passes for 40 yards including for a touchdown.

Devontae Williams was big on defense with 11 tackles in the game. Darian Germany and Clay Caldwell had 8 tackles. Germany also recorded a sack and Raheem Bonam had seven stops and returned an interception for a touchdown.
Opp has a bye week next Friday night before it hits the road to Geneva in two weeks.

“I’m just glad to get out of there with a victory,” Bobcats’ coach Brent Hill said. “Hillcrest is a very good team. We have room to improve. Next week we are off, so we will work on healing up and improving.”