BOGUE CHITTO – The Bogue Chitto Bobcats snapped a 15-game losing skid Friday night with a 42-20 homecoming victory over the Mount Olive Pirates in Region 4-1A action at Troy Smith Field.

“It is great to get the win,” said BC coach Gareth Sartin. “The guys came out and played a lot better in the second half as we executed better both offensively and defensively. In the first half, we played sluggish, and we had too many penalties and turnovers that hurt us. Overall, I was proud for my guys and my seniors for getting this big win.”

In the opening quarter, the Bobcats scored on Kobe Roberts’ touchdown run, but the TD was erased on a holding penalty. On the following possession, Mount Olive defender Tremaine Easterling intercepted a pass to kill BC’s threat.

The Pirates turned BC’s turnover into points as they scored on a 5-yard run by Tray McNair with 10:21 left.

The Bobcats would answer the Pirates’ challenge with a 36-yard touchdown run by Roberts to tie the game at 6-6 with 6:42 remaining. BC elected to go for the two-point conversion and was successful – Roberts ran it in to give the Bobcats a 8-6 lead.

In the second quarter, the Bobcats punched in another touchdown to give BC a 14-6 lead on a 1-yard run by quarterback Connor Douglas with 6:35 remaining.

Mount Olive quickly answered as they took only one play to score a 63-yard touchdown – McNair connected with Ty Norwood with 6:14 left. The Bobcats led 14-12.

Bogue Chitto returned to its ground attack and worked the ball the field to score on a 14-yard strike as Douglas hooked up with Dee Dillon for the touchdown with 58 seconds left in the half. The Bobcats led 20-12 at halftime.

In the second half, the Bobcats came out on fire and outscored the Pirates 22-8.

In the third period, BC’s defense managed to get into the scoring action when Brandon Blackwell returned a blocked punt 40 yards for a touchdown with 10:15 remaining.

Just before the end of the third quarter, the Bobcats added to their lead with a 14-yard run by Roberts with 6 seconds left. BC was successful on the two-point conversion as Douglas hit LaFredrick Dillon in the endzone to push their lead to 34-12.

In the final quarter, both teams traded scores. Mount Olive scored with 6:15 left when Austin Hunt plowed in a 1-yard run and Deras Franklin ran in the two-point conversion to cut into BC’s lead at 34-20.

Bogue Chitto’s final touchdown of the night came on a 5-yard run by D.J. Nunnery with 1:16 left. Douglas punched in the two-point conversion to give the Bobcats a 42-20 victory.

Offensively, Roberts powered the Bobcats’ rushing game with 10 carries for 110 yards. Douglas contributed 12 rushes for 71 yards. Nunnery rushed nine times for 39 yards, and Sherman Jackson provided eight rushes for 34 yards.

Douglas completed 3-of-9 passes for 86 yards and two interceptions.

Dee Dillon was the top receiver with one catch for 45 yards. Roberts caught two passes for 41 yards.

For Mount Olive, Ty Norwood was the offensive leader with 14 rushes for 44 yards. He also completed two of three passes for 24 yards and caught a pass for 63 yards.

McNair rushed for 22 yards on five carries and completed a pass for 63 yards.

Defensively, Kolby Halford and Roberts directed the Bobcats with eight tackles each. Roberts also recovered a fumble. Terrance Morgan, Eli Wallace and Jackson provided seven tackles each. Wallace also had two fumble recoveries.

The Bobcats (1-6, 1-2) will have an open date Friday as they prepare for another tough district test against the Lumberton Panthers on Oct. 16 at Troy Smith Field.