Opp wasn’t going to leave Channel-Lee Stadium without a fight Thursday night.

The Bobcats battled late in regulation, and pushed the game into overtime where they beat W.S. Neal 20-14 in their preseason jamboree game.

The junior varsity teams took the field first, playing the first quarter and the first four minutes of the second quarter. Both teams ended their run with no score.

Opp got on board first when senior defensive end Jerad Marler picked up the ball on a W.S. Neal fumbled goal line punt to give the Bobcats a quick six points early on in the varsity team’s turn on the field.

W.S. Neal answered with 3:33 left in the second quarter on a 16-yard pass from Dylan Godwin to Ashton Elliot. Godwin finished 10-of-23 and had two touchdowns. Elliot had five receptions for 127 yards and two touchdowns.

Opp head coach Jack Whigham said despite the outcome, the team has a lot of work to do to get ready for next week.

“We’re not in shape,” Whigham said. “And that’s my fault. I’m going to do something about correcting that.”

The Bobcats will travel to face Elba in their 2011 season-opener next Friday night. Kick off is slated for 7 p.m.

W.S. Neal couldn’t convert on its first touchdown and trailed 7-6 going into half time.

Late in the third quarter, Godwin connected with Elliot for his second touchdown pass from 65 yards out.

Elliot caught the short pass, did a shimmy-shake and hit pay dirt for the score.

Opp’s defense was razzled, and held the Eagles to no points for the rest of the way.

The Bobcats tied the game up with more than 10 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter on a two-yard rush from senior running back Myeke Boyd. Boyd rushed 49 yards on eight carries.

Late in regulation, Opp got in prime scoring position with only a few seconds left, but couldn’t get it done.

In overtime, Opp scored on its first possession when senior quarterback T.J. Register connected with senior wide receiver Dane Buckelew for 10 yards out.

Register completed six passes on 77 yards and had a touchdown.

Buckelew had one reception for 10 yards and a touchdown.

The Bobcats’ defense held the Eagles, and managed to break up a pass for the last down.

An underlying theme for Opp Thursday night was that a lot of penalties were called for the Bobcats on both sides of the ball.

“We did a lot of undisciplined stuff,” Whigham said. “We had way too many illegal procedure calls.

“We’re not very disciplined, and we’ve been preaching to our kids the importance of discipline and doing the right things and doing it the right way all of the time,” he said.

Whigham stressed that it takes a lot of “hard work” to win games.

“If they want to have a chance to make the playoffs and win some football games, then they’ve got to understand what hard work is all about,” he said. “We’ve got to get back to work.”