“What a great game! It’s just a shame we lost,” was the reaction of more than one fan who watched the Breathitt Co. Bobcats square off with the Middlesboro Yellow Jackets at Mike Holcomb Field last Friday evening in a game that more than likely determined the district championship. Middlesboro won 57 to 42 as the two offenses exploded for 99 total points. It could have been more.

Middlesboro did not lead until late in the 3rd quarter when they went ahead 42-35. The Breathitt offense came right back on the running of Beckham Herald and quarterback Colby Fugate to knot the score at 42-42 with 11 minutes left in the game. Middlesboro scored the final two touchdowns of the game for the winning margin.

With 2:43 left in the game and trailing 50-42, the Bobcats’ final drive of the game stalled and the Bobcats punted from deep in their own territory. Middlesboro drove for the final score with 54 seconds in the game. “Why, did we punt?” was the question most fans were asking.

The opening play of the game was a 60 yard touchdown run by Beckham. The Bobcats got the ball right back as Chris Jackson recovered a fumble. A long pass completion to Rusty Herald gave the Bobcats a 12-0 lead and Colby found Beckham on a slant pass as the try for two was good. The Bobcats led 14-0 with only two minutes elapsed in the game.

Colby was 10-19 passing for over 200 yards. Rusty caught 3 passes for 74 YDS. and a touchdown. Beckham had 2 catches for 65 yards. Channing Fugate caught 3 passes for 38 YDS and a touchdown. Ryan Allen and Wes Epperson also had catches. Beckham had 116 YDS rushing and two touchdowns. Colby had 96 YDS rushing and two touchdowns.

The Bobcats had two good kick returns by Dusty Allen and Chris Spicer.

The Bobcat defense, while giving up 57 points did not appear to play badly as much as Middlesboro seemed to execute perfectly. Alex Strong had a pass interception for the Bobcats; Houston Noble had a quarterback sack. Safety Jade Haddix was in on a team-leading 12 tackles. Jackson had 9 tackles; Scott Bailey was in on seven. Reserve Juan Little had 5 tackles.

Another question being asked was how could a “John Paul defense” with two weeks to prepare give up 57 points? Coach Mike Holcomb, appearing on the WJSN Radio ” Sports Talk” Show, took full responsibility for the loss, and the decision to punt late in the game. The coach explained that turning the ball over on downs late in the game deep in your own territory meant almost certain defeat. On the punt, anything could have happened including a fumble recovery.

Knott Co. is a much improved team. Beating them is no longer a “sure thing.” Knott gave Perry Central all they wanted. The Bobcats must come to play.

That the Bobcats would have to play Middlesboro twice to advance in the playoffs comes as no surprise to the Bobcat coaches. You remember the coaching staff with three state championships. Don’t think for one minute that Middlesboro saw all Coach Chapman has planned for them on Friday night and when the defense responds to the confidence Coach Holcomb has in them, the rematch might answer all the questions.