It was a hard fought defensive battle, but the Hobbton Wildcats picked up their sixth win in a row spoiling the Lakewood Leopards’ senior night and coming away with a 20-7 win.
Both teams fought for every foot they gained.
The Wildcats had first chance at the ball, but the Leopards shut down that drive after six and a half minutes of play.
Lakewood took over at their 14-yard line and drew first blood as they marched to the Wildcat end zone scoring with 14 ticks left on the first quarter clock. Jamari McNeil hooked up with Donques Thompkins on a short pass play. The PAT kick was good for a 7-0 Leopard lead.
The Wildcats took over at their 20-yard line after the score early in the second half. With 8:41 left in the half, Reggie Thompson scampered in on a 4-yard run. Will Blackman’s PAT kick knotted the score at 7 apiece.
Lakewood’s next drive got deep into Wildcat territory before giving up the ball on the Wildcat 5-yard line. With methodical precision, Joe Corbett and company dismantled the Leopard defense scoring on a 36-yard race by Amir Tate with 26 seconds left in the half. Blackman’s PAT kick gave the Wildcats a 14-7 advantage.
Blackman’s kickoff went through the end zone giving the Leopards the ball on their 20-yard line. However, time ran out before they could accomplish much.
They had first chance after the half starting on their 30-yard line. The Wildcat defense shut them down forcing the turnover.
After a short punt, the Wildcats started at the 45-yard line. They picked apart the Leopard defense again, scoring with 7:35 left in the third quarter on a 35-yard scamper by Thompson. Blackman’s PAT kick was deflected leaving the score at 20-7.
The balance of the game was the defensive battle, with neither team scoring although Lakewood did get to the Wildcat 14-yard line before laying the ball on the ground with the Wildcats recovering.
As the clock wound down, the Wildcats were threatening again as Thompson was run out of bounds at the Leopard 9-yard line with four seconds left on the clock.
Statistically, the Wildcats dominated the Leopards. Corbett completed two of three passes for eight yards. Thompson rushed for 127 yards on four carries. Tate had 11 attempts for 121 yards. Corbett picked up 19 yards on one rushing attempt. The Wildcats had 348 yards on the ground and eight yards in the air. Tate also had one interception.
The Leopards’ Reed Ammons was 0 for 1, Calvin Lacewell, Jr was 1 for 1 with five yards. Burroughs Strickland completed 6 of 14 attempts for 72 yards.
On the ground, Ammons rushed 11 times for 33 yards. Lacewell had 19 carries for 89 yards. The Leopards had 114 yards on the ground and 77 yards passing.
Next week’s battle between Hobbton and North Duplin will determine who has sole possession of first place in the conference or who will share those honors. Game time is 7 p.m. at Hobbton for senior night and the last regular season game.