The Carolina Academy Bobcats played the role of spoiler at Ruff Field for Richard Winn Academy’s Homecoming football game Friday night, handing them a bruising, lop-sided and disappointing 60-6 defeat. Despite the week-long spirited festivities leading up to game, it was the visiting Bobcats from Lake City that proved themselves most prepared for the grid iron challenge.
The Eagle captains won the coin toss and elected to receive the opening kickoff. RWA began their first offensive series on their own 45-yard line after Matt Taylor recovered the Bobcats’ onside kick. Following three unsuccessful attempts to move the chains, the Eagles were forced to punt it away.
Starting on their own 25-yard line, the Bobcats methodically moved the ball across mid-field to the RWA 48-yard line. There they faced a fourth-and-1 situation and opted to go for it. The next play call was the magic trick for the Bobcats as running back Stephen Lee broke loose on a 48-yard touchdown run. The PAT pass fell incomplete. With 7:09 left in the first quarter, the Bobcats led 6-0.
The Eagles had three more opportunities in the opening quarter to kick-start their offense, only to be halted by the stellar Bobcat defense each time. The Carolina offense, on the other hand, used their speed and capitalized on each possession in the first quarter to lead 22-0.
The second quarter proved to be much of the same with the unstoppable Bobcats finding their way to the end zone three more times while the Eagles struggled with turnovers.
Following junior Mason Gibbons’ 11-yard kickoff return during the Eagles’ second series of the quarter, RWA quarterback Austin Knox found receiver Reid Johnson open. Snagging the pass, Johnson raced 67 yards down the Eagle sideline to score RWA’s first and only touchdown of the night. The 2-point conversion pass fell incomplete, and with 6:34 remaining in the first half, the scoreboard showed Visitors 36 – RWA 6.
By the end of the half, the Bobcats had added another touchdown and a 2-point conversion, boosting the visitors’ score to 44 while the Eagles’ total remained at 6.
Carolina scored again during their second possession of the third quarter. Quarterback Ken Parker completed a 15-yard touchdown pass to Garrett Weaver, and Lee rushed across the end line for the 2-point conversion. The Bobcats commanded a 46-point lead, 52-6.
Things looked promising for the Eagle offense near the end of the third quarter. RWA advanced the ball deep into Bobcat territory, but as fate would have it, a Knox pass was picked off at the 13-yard line to halt that Eagle scoring drive.
This time Carolina kept the ball on the ground and drove it down field in just seven plays to score again, driving the final nail in the Eagles’ coffin. Running back Greg Beckum scored the rushing touchdown for the Bobcats from 15 yards out. Parker completed the 2-point conversion pass to receiver Jerry Floyd.
The climax of the evening was the crowning of the Homecoming Queen and Sweetheart during half time from among the nine participants. Junior Carson Justice, sponsored by junior Mason Gibbons, was crowned as the new Homecoming Queen while freshman Madison Spang, sponsored by senior Sidney Edenfield, was selected as Football Sweetheart. Carson is the daughter of Rebekah Douglas Coleman and Chuck Justice. Scott and Trent Spang are Madison’s parents.
The Eagles hope to rebound with a victory as they travel to Ehrhardt on Friday, Oct. 5, to face the Andrew Jackson Confederates before returning home the next week for the Senior Night game against the Wardlaw Patriots.