By Kyle Roberts
RUSTON – An electric atmosphere at James Field at Hoss Garrett Stadium was treated to a game winning, last second score Friday night as Ruston High (2-1) overcame first half turnovers and a stout Cabot High School Panther defense for a 17-14 finish.
A 24-yard field goal by kicker Will Fendley split the uprights as time expired for the go ahead score to send Bearcat fans into a postgame celebration. The Bearcats held Cabot scoreless in the second half and scored 10 unanswered points with five minutes remaining in the ball game.
“I’m glad the kids found a way to win again,” Ruston head coach Jerrod Baugh said about his Bearcats. “I thought in the second half we played a lot harder that we did in the first half. That’s a credit to (Cabot). They’re a really good football team and had a good plan.”
Cabot outrushed, outpassed, and outpossessed Ruston all night long. But the stat that mattered the most ended up being the final score, which was in Ruston’s favor.
The Bearcats struck first with a 69-yard interception return by junior linebacker Jaden Mayfield with 9:07 left to go in the first quarter to take a 7-0 lead.
Cabot would tie the ballgame after a 21-yard rushing touchdown by senior running back Evion Jimmerson for the Panthers following a Ruston turnover with 5:05 to play in the first quarter.
Ruston committed its third turnover of the first half with 6:22 left to go before halftime, but the Bearcats defense continued to hold strong. However, Cabot found the end zone as time expired in the first half with a one-yard run by senior quarterback Abe Owen to take a 14-7 lead into the halftime locker room.
“We turned the ball over too much in the first half,” Baugh said. “It put our defense in a bad position by having to take too many snaps. You could tell we were getting gassed. Cabot did a better job running the football on us in the second half. We’ve got to find consistency on offense.”
After a scoreless third quarter for both teams, Ruston tied the ballgame 14-14 with a touchdown by senior running back Dyson Fields from 2-yards out after a face mask penalty set up a close yardage situation for the Bearcats to punch the ball in with 4:34 left to play.
“We’ll get back to work tomorrow,” Baugh said. “It’s easier to get back to work after you find a way to win like this. I’m proud for the kids.”
Ruston returns to action for its first road contest Friday, Sept. 23, against Lafayette Christian Academy. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. and can be heard on Z107.5 FM and streamed on BearcatNationNetwork.com.
