By: Tripp Norris

The Opp Bobcats needed a win on Friday night to secure a playoff spot, but fell 29-19 on the road to Geneva.

Geneva scored two touchdowns in the first quarter, both on 1-yard runs for a 14-0 lead.

After having a touchdown called back, the Bobcats did get on the board with eight minutes remaining until halftime. 

Ashton Patel scored from 34 yards out cutting into the Geneva lead. 

The Bobcats trailed 14-7 at the break. 

On their opening possession of the third quarter, the Bobcats scored to pull to within one.  Patel scored again this time on a 4-yard run. 

The extra point was no good and Opp trailed by one 14-13. 

The Bobcats took the lead midway through the third quarter. 

Reggie Thompson scored from 12 yards out putting Opp ahead for the first time in the game 19-14. 

Geneva retook the lead with two minutes to go in the third, scoring and completing a two-point attempt for a 22-19 lead after three.

Opp had a second touchdown called back in the fourth, but still drove into the red zone. 

On fourth-and-2 at the 6-yard line, Opp was marked short of the first down marker and turned the ball back over to Geneva. 

Geneva then used the momentum on the fourth down stop to score one final time to put the game out of reach for a 29-19 win.

“It was a tough way to lose a game,” Opp head coach Brent Hill said. “We had opportunities to respond and did not do that consistently.  Geneva is a tough environment and the Panthers played a good game.” 

Ashton Patel led the Bobcats on the ground with 17 carries for 155 yards and two touchdowns. 

Reggie Thompson completed three passes for 64 yards.

On defense Ethan Baker led the way with 13 tackles and a sack. 

Kody Richburg 12 tackles, while Kross Russell, Spurlin Kelley, and Shawn Tillis had eight tackles each.