Bobcats refuse to compromise against Kipp Sunnyside

HD Nation refused to compromise last Friday in Bobcat Stadium. The ‘Cats fell behind on three occasions and trailed at the half 30 - 27 before scoring 30 unanswered 2nd half points to win 54 - 27.

Houston’s Kipp Sunnyside Charter School will not soon forget their first trip to Daisetta.

Kipp started the action by running back the opening kickoff 75 yards. With PAT, it was 7 - 0. HD scrimmaged from their 20 and promptly fumbled at the 46. It looked to be a long Friday night. But the defense held, and Kipp punted. Sophomore Dawson Victorian ran the punt back 26 yards, and HD played from their own 49. On 3rd and 10, Victorian went in motion and took a handoff from Junior Landyn Sellers. He escaped around the left side in a hole opened by Slade Ford and Gavin Gay. The rest was pure speed, and HD had their first TD. Sellers scored the PAT, and it was 8 - 7 Bobcats.

Sunnyside scrimmaged at their 47 after a short squib kickoff. Three minutes later, they lit up the Bobcat defense with a 35 TD pass. It was 13 - 8 Senators. The ‘Cats offense was led by Sellers at QB, as it has been for the past couple of years. He had missed the first three games with a sprained ankle and health issues. Friday night, he shook off the cobwebs, for the most part. On the next drive, though, he was intercepted at the Senator 24. Sunnyside marched right back down the field and completed a 23 yard TD pass to take a 20 - 8 lead with 11:45 left in the 2nd quarter.

The Bobcats then put together a classic time-consuming drive. The offensive line really took over the game. Center Dylan Scott and company forged holes, and Bobcat rushers like senior Jeremiah Loften took full advantage. Loften scored his first TD from 30 yards with 6 minutes left in the 2nd to make the score 20 - 16 Kipp.

The Senators and the Bobcats exchanged punts. Kipp took the Bobcat punt and scrimmaged at the Bobcat 44. They used one play and 9 seconds to score their 4th TD and final TD of the game. It was 27 - 16 with 1 minute left. Victorian ran the kickoff back 34 yards to the Senator’s 44 with 53 seconds left. Sellers then led the ‘Cats down the field and Victorian capped the drive as time ran out with a 6-yard run. With Sellers on the PAT, it was 27 - 24 at halftime.

Senior Terrance Haskins fielded the 2nd half opening kickoff at the 33 to start the ‘Cats impressive 30 point run. 30 points in the 2nd half for the 2nd week in a row. Victorian caught a Sellers toss for 24 yards to get the ‘Cats close. Sellers scored from the 2 on a up the middle keeper, and the Bobcats led for the 2nd time in the game, 30 - 27.

After a Kipp punt, HD Nation needed only 47 seconds to make the 61-yard drive. Loften scored his 2nd TD from 35 yards over the right side. That made it 38 - 27. Kipp punted, and the ‘Cats gave it up on downs, and Kipp had the ball at their own 26 with just over a minute left in the 3rd. An errant snap to the shotgun positioned QB and a stellar rush by Conner Drake and wallah! The big defensive end picked up the ball and covered the 20 yards to the end zone untouched. With the PAT, it was 46 - 27, and that is how the 3rd ended. With 4 minutes left in the

With 4 minutes left in the game, senior offensive lineman Gavin Gay moved into the backfield and rushed for 5 carries and 18 yards, and a TD. Cayden Anders scored the PAT, and the final score was 54 - 27. On the night, Sellers was 1 for 6, passing for 24 yards. He had 5 carries for 22 yards and 1 TD. Anders was called on for 8 carries and 71 yards. Loften was a workhorse with 13 carries and 127 yards - 9.8 yards per carry. Victorian led all Bobcat rushes with 18 carries on 133 yards. His long run on the night was a 50 yarder. In the last two games, Victorian has rushed for 382 yards.

Loften and Isaac Garcia both had 5 tackles. Garcia also recorded a sack. Loten had a couple of QB pressures on the night. Anders continues to lead the ‘Cats on the season with 24 tackles. He had 4 Friday night, along with a disruption. Drake made 4 tackles and recovered the fumble for a TD. Nian Beck also had 4 tackles. Scott made 4 tackles and had a couple of assists. Victorian and Sellers both had 3 tackles each. Collin Alverez and Damien Guzman each made 2 tackles while Kayden Flowers had a tackle, and John Ypma created a disruption.

HD has an open week tomorrow. The team is 2 - 2 on the season and will host Deweyville for the district opener next Friday. Deweyville also has an open week and is 2 - 2 on the season.