BOGUE CHITTO – The Lumberton Panthers defeated the Bogue Chitto Bobcats 46-7 in Region 4-1A action Friday night at Troy Smith field.

The Bobcats entered into the contest looking for a region win as Coach Gareth Sartin hoped it would be the night for his squad to pull out a victory.

The night started with a tearjerker. After recognizing the Youth Football League, C.J. Miller was presented a helmet. Miller could not play football because he had cancer. The crowd was also entertained at halftime from the PeeWee cheerleaders and the “Mini in Motion” dance team of Bogue Chitto.

The Lumberton Panthers scored first and scored often. The Bobcats showed some positive plays but just didn’t score or stop the Panthers offensive attack when they needed.

In the first quarter, Rasante Willis, for Lumberton, came up with a 92-yard touchdown reception. Lumberton lined up for the two-point conversion but the Bobcats held them out of the endzone. Izell Roberts, for Lumberton, scored again on a 35-yard reception for a touchdown. The Panthers were able to get the 2-point conversion.

The Bobcats were got the ball rolling when Sherman Jackson got the first down on a big run. At the 2:35 mark, the Bobcats were able to cap off a good drive when Dee Dillon had a 21-yard reception over the defender for a touchdown. Cameron Price’s kick was good.

The Lumberton Panthers ended the first quarter with a good drive. The Bobcats defense did not have an answer to stop the Panthers. BC was in the game, but the defense struggled to get a stop or turnover. Lumberton lead 14-7 over Bogue Chitto, after one quarter of action.

To start off the second quarter, the Lumberton Panthers added to their lead when Joe Arnold had a one-yard touchdown carry. Lumberton’s defense stood strong and forced the Bobcats’ offense to turn the ball over on downs.

At the 6:00 mark of the second quarter, the Panthers converted on fourth down to keep their offensive drive alive. They capped off the drive when Blake Ford had a 16-yard reception for a touchdown and the PAT was successful.

The Bobcats were clicking along and on a third down throw, Connor Douglas threw the ball to the wrong man and Daylon Burk came up with the interception. Lumberton took advantage of the take away and scored again on a 25-yard reception for a touchdown by Javier Chavis and the PAT was unsuccessful. Lumberton went into halftime with a 33-7 lead over Bogue Chitto.

In the third quarter, the Panthers picked up where they left off from the first half as Daylon Burk scored on a 45-yard carry for a touchdown and the PAT was successful.

At the 4:40 mark Kobe Roberts for the Bobcats had a big completion down the center of the field to keep the drive alive. The Panthers’ defense made a big stop to force the Bobcats to turn the ball over on downs.

In the fourth quarter, the Bobcats fumbled and Lumberton recovered the football. Lumberton drove the football down the field but the defense of the Bobcats kept the Panthers out of the endzone.

BC started their offensive drive with a long field but a mishandled snap and David Sandifer recovered the fumble in the endzone for a touchdown for the Panthers.

The Bobcats got the ball back but ended their drive with another fumble. Lumberton recovered the fumble and elected to kneel the football to end the game.

Defensively for the Bobcats, Matthew Black led the team with 11 tackles. Will Fauver contributed with six tackles. Bo Smothers, Kobe Roberts, Trey Crittendon, Brandon McKenzie, and C.J. Nunnery had 3 tackles apiece.

The Bogue Chitto Bobcats will be on the road next Friday night as they visit Sandhill to take on Pisgah Dragons. Kickoff is at 7 p.m.