BOGUE CHITTO – The 2001 season got off to an explosivestart for the Bogue Chitto Bobcats Friday night as they annihilatedthe Stringer Red Devils 46-0 on Troy Smith Field. It was a Region4-1A test for both teams and the Bobcats looked likecontenders.

The Bobcats rolled up an impressive 404 yards ofoffense, 375 coming on the ground. Denard Ferguson led the way with134 yards and two touchdowns on 11 carries.

“We felt good going into this game,” said Bogue Chittohead coach Carl Cole. “It’s a long season and one game doesn’t makeit, but it’s always good to get that first win, especially whenit’s a regional game.”

The Bobcats’ first score came at the 5:36 mark of thefirst quarter. A Caleb McCaffery fumble recovery put Bogue Chittoin business on the Stringer 39. Ferguson capped a three-play drivewith a three-yard run. John Wallace’s extra point kick wasunsuccessful, leaving the score at 6-0.

A 53-year punt return by Cody Wallace to the Red Devils’35 started the Bobcats on their next scoring march.

The drive ended with a six-yard touchdown from DominiqueAddison. A two-point conversion attempt failed.

A bad snap on a punt attempt set up the Bobcats’ nexttouchdown. Taking possession on the Stringer one-yard line,Ferguson reached paydirt for the second time on the night. Wallaceconnected on the PAT for a 19-0 lead with 10:36 remaining in thefirst half.

After forcing Stringer to punt on its next possession,quarterback Jacob Leggett added to the Red Devils’

misery with a spectacular 44-yard scoring run. The extrapoint attempt was no good and the Bobcats led 25-0.

A fumble recovery by David Adams led to the final Bobcatscore of the first half. Addison took the ball in from

six yards out with 6:39 left. Ferguson added thetwo-point conversion, leaving the score at 33-0 at theintermission.

Stringer’s third fumble of the game led to the Bobcatsscore in the third quarter. Lindsey Jackson recovered the ball onthe Bogue Chitto 40. A six-play drive culminated with an eight-yardtouchdown from Leggett. A two-point conversion attempt failed,leaving the score at 39-0 with 5:05 to play in theperiod.

The last score of the night came with 7:45 to play.Addison took the ball in from six yards ending asix-play

drive. Wallace added the PAT for the finalmargin.

“We’ve got to take our hats off to Bogue Chitto,” RedDevils’ coach Bruce Adams said. “Our kids gave a good

effort, but they (the Bobcats) capitalized on ourmistakes.”

Seven Bobcats carried the ball on the night. AidingFerguson in the attack were Addison with 75 yards and

three touchdowns and Leggett with 62 yards and twoscores. Michael Blackwell contributed 69 yards, David Adams 17,Wallace 16 and Lyvanda Carmichael two.

Through the air, Leggett completed one of four passattempts, to Scott Edwards, for 29 yards.The Bobcats

picked up 10 first downs and were penalized five timesfor 45 yards. They had no turnovers.

On defense, John Wallace and Paul Martin each had sixtackles with Addison, Jackson and Chancey Wallace chipping in withfive.

Stringer’s offense was led by Chris Winfield’s 94 rushing yardson 17 carries. They picked up nine first downs

and lost three of five fumbles. Quarterback Josh Anderson didnot complete any of his four pass attempts.

Both teams will be in action again on Friday with Bogue Chittohosting the Class 3A Franklin County Bulldogs.

Stringer returns home to host Puckett.