Bowling Green School traveled to Hattiesburg last Friday to face Presbyterian Christian School. The Class 4A Buccaneers were looking to upset the Class 6A Bobcats for their homecoming game and move one game over .500. The Bobcats protected their home field and earned a 35-18 victory that dropped the Bucs to 3-4 on the season.
Bowling Green played without several key starters who were suffering from the flu while others were playing after recently getting over the illness.
On the second possession for Presbyterian, the Bobcats moved 80 yards in 6 plays while reaching the end zone on a 25 yard touchdown catch and run. The extra point was good and PCS led 7-0 in the first quarter.
The Bucs took over on their own 23 yard line on the ensuing possession. Behind a steady push from the offensive line, BGS moved 77 yards in 10 plays to get on the scoreboard. Josiah Miller capped the drive with a 25 yard touchdown run. The extra point missed slightly to the left and Presbyterian held a slim 7-6 lead.
Presbyterian didn't take long to increase their lead. Two plays after the kickoff, the Bobcats scored on a 55 yard touchdown pass. After the successful extra point, PCS held a 14-6 lead with 6:59 left in the second quarter.
The Bobcats returned a BGS punt inside the 20 yard line. A screen pass to the right flat went for a 15 yard touchdown. A successful extra point put Presbyterian ahead 21-6 which would be the halftime score.
Presbyterian took over on their third possession of the second half at the 50 yard line. The Bobcats marched 50 yards in 6 plays and scored on a 10 yard touchdown pass. The extra point was successful and PCS held a 28-6 lead with 7:30 remaining in the third quarter.
Bowling Green returned the kickoff to their own 40 yard line. Quarterback Maddox Magee found Dray Killingsworth for a 29 yard completion on first down. Kyron Cowart raced around right end on the next play to complete the drive with a 36 yard touchdown run. The try for two failed and the score was 28-12 late in the third quarter.
The Bobcats answered with a drive that resulted in a touchdown pass. The extra point increased the PCS lead to 35-12 in the fourth quarter.
The Buccaneers finished the scoring for the game when Miller carried up the middle for 24 yards and a BGS touchdown. A failed two point conversion made the final score 35-18 with the Bucs coming up short on the evening.
"Battled the flu all week and had limited practice time," said coach Phill Junkins. "Thought our first half of play was solid but fatigue and illness caught us in the second half. We'll face another challenging opponent in Parklane Academy this coming Friday. Josiah had a good night with 23 carries for 116 yards and Kyron Cowart had 14 carries for 82 yards."
Defensively, Zeke Burford, Camrin Seal and Maddox Magee had four tackles, Trey Champagne, Cale McDaniel and Jonathan Traylor each had three tackles while LJ Jenkins, Bryce Graham, and Ben Galloway totaled two each.
The Buccaneers will host Parklane Academy this Friday at W. E. "Buck" Hellen Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7 PM on the Bowling Green campus.
