The Pilot Point Bearcats traveled to Pottsboro to take on the Cardinals on Oct. 23 in a pivotal district matchup, with the Cardinals taking the win 35-14.
Both teams came into the game undefeated in district play, but Pottsboro’s defense held the Bearcats to 225 yards of offense and forced multiple turnovers to take over first place in the district.
“We came out playing well in the beginning,” said Chad Worrell, Pilot Point athletic director and head football coach. “We got some big stops on their first drive and had the momentum for most of the first quarter, but we knew they were going to get their points and that we were going to have to score. … We couldn’t make the plays when we needed to down the stretch.”
The Cardinals would receive the opening kickoff but were forced to punt after moving the ball to their own 47-yard line.
On the third play of the ensuing Bearcats drive, Hunter Newman ran 23 yards for the game’s first touchdown, putting Pilot Point on top 7-0 after kicker Anthony Torres added the extra point.
The Cardinals would answer with a six-play 80-yard drive, capped by quarterback Cayden Humphrey connecting with receiver Trace Olsen for a 30-yard touchdown pass, tying the score at 7 midway through the first quarter.
Pilot Point responded by moving the ball 60 yards on their next possession and ending in a 2-yard touchdown run by fullback Caden David, putting the Bearcats back in front 14-7 with a little over three minutes left in the first quarter.
Pottsboro took control of the matchup after that, with the Cardinals tying the game on their next possession, on a 10-play, 69yard drive that included a 4th down conversion.
Humphrey capped the drive by calling his own number and rumbling in for a 39-yard touchdown.
The Bearcats’ next possession ended with a fumble on the third play of the drive, giving the ball and momentum to the Cardinals.
Pottsboro would score on the third play of the ensuing drive when running back Carson Nix ran for a 23-yard score, giving the Cardinals the lead 21-14 with 8:06 left in the half.
The Bearcats were forced to punt on their next possession, and the Cardinals added another touchdown before half with Humphrey scampering into the end zone from 5 yards out, sending the teams into the locker rooms with Pottsboro leading 28-14 at the half.
The two teams traded possessions in the third quarter, with the Bearcats’ two drives ending in turnover on downs and the Cardinals’ two drives ending with a turnover on downs and a fumble recovered by Pilot Point defensive lineman Memo Esparza. The fourth quarter started with a Bearcats turnover on downs, which the Cardinals took advantage of with a 5-play, 68yard touchdown drive ending with Humphrey finding wide receiver Garrett Dorris on a 34yard touchdown strike, sealing the 35-14 win for the Cardinals.
“When you play a good team, somebody that is evenly matched with you, you can't make those mistakes, whether it be a missed assignment or missed tackle,” Worrell said. “It just shows how important those mistakes can become. When you make mistakes in a game that you win by 30, you focus on the good things, but we don't have much time to worry about it because we have to get ready for Whitesboro. The kids fought hard, and we're going to get better from this.”
Assistant editor Martin Edwards contributed to this report.
