Cats roar back in second half to secure playoff birth

Southern Sports & Travel

Before the first quarter had ended the Silliman Wildcats had committed two turnovers, both resulting in Bowling Green touchdowns, and their attempt at clinching a playoff spot with a win looked grim but an opening second half scoring drive and a stellar defensive effort spurred Silliman to a 21-14 road win thus securing a playoff position for the second consecutive year.

Silliman quarterback Cobb Kelly produced 311 yards of offense and 3 touchdowns and Silliman’s defense delivered in the second half by forcing four Bowling Green punts, stopping a fourth down attempt and collecting a safety in the closing seconds to secure the Wildcat’s second come from behind win in two weeks.

Silliman’s offense looked out of sorts on their opening possession of the night as Buccaneer linebacker Russ Smith recovered a Wildcat fumble at the Silliman 12 yard line less than five minutes into the contest.

Bowling Green made good on the Silliman turnover and capitalized when sophomore quarterback Connor McCain plowed in from one yard out five plays later for the night’s first score. Grant Ball’s PAT gave Bowling Green an early 7-0 lead at the 4:24 mark of the opening quarter.

On Silliman’s third possession of the quarter disaster struck once again when and option toss in the backfield went array at the Wildcat 9 yard line and a mad scramble ensued and when all was said and done Buccaneer senior Russ Smith recovered the football in the end zone for another Bowling Green score. Ball added the PAT to increase the advantage to 14-0 with 1:07 still left in the first quarter.

Just when Silliman thought it could get no worse it did as the Cats committed their third turnover in four offensive possessions to start the game. Cobb Kelly’s pass to wide-out Thomas Myles was jarred loose after the reception and recovered by Bowling Green’s Coleman Knight at the Wildcat 27 yard line with 10:14 to go in the first half.

(Above) Silliman quarterback Cobb Kelly (#1) had 311 total yards and 3 touchdowns on the night

Bowling Green moved to the Silliman 6 yard line before the Wildcat defense began to stiffen. A four yard loss on a Connor McCain run on third down put Bowling Green into a fourth and goal from the ten yard line but the Bucs chose to go for it instead of a field goal attempt. McCain’s pass to Sebastian Milton came up three yards short of the goal line giving possession back to Silliman with just over six minutes remaining in a first half that would close with Bowling Green holding a 14-0 edge.

Silliman started the third quarter by rolling out a five play, 80 yard drive that was highlighted by the play of senior quarterback Cobb Kelly. Kelly ran for 25 yards on the drive and hooked up with Thomas Myles on a 42 yard pass play to the Buccaneer 20 yard line. Kelly completed the drive on the next play when he connected with Zach Kelly on a 20 yard touchdown strike and following a successful Brady Brian PAT the Cats had cut the deficit in half at 14-7 with 9:33 left in the quarter.

(Above) Silliman defensive end Jordan Talley (#72) had two late 4th quarter sacks

Bowling Green’s defense came up big on Silliman’s next possession as junior defensive back James Lavigne picked off a Kelly pass in Buccaneer territory with 6:21 remaining in the third quarter and it looked to have given Bowling Green the momentum as the Buc’s offense moved from their own 39 yard line to Silliman’s 17 in six plays but the drive would be halted as tailback Patrick Roublow was dropped for a three yard loss and Silliman sophomore defensive end Jordan Talley recorded consecutive sacks on Conner McCain on third and fourth down to give the football back to the Wildcats at their own 34 yard line.

Bowling Green took a 14-7 lead into the fourth quarter but on Silliman’s first possession the Cat’s offense began forcing its’ will on the Buc's defense.

Following a 50 yard punt from Bowling Green’s Grant Ball the Wildcats produced a 9 play, 93 yard drive that took just under four minutes and was capped on a Cobb Kelly 14 yard touchdown pass in the corner of the end zone to Trey Rockforte with 4:23 remaining in regulation.

Silliman’s PAT to tie the contest went wide left preserving a 14-13 Buccaneer lead.

Bowling Green’s offense was forced into a quick three and out and a shanked punt on fourth down set Silliman up at the Buccaneer 37 yard line with 2:01 remaining.

(Above) Bowling Green's Patrick Roublow gets taken down by two Silliman defenders

A Cobb Kelly pass to Trey Rockforte pushed the Wildcats to the Bowling Green 18 yard line on second down and three plays later Kelly connected with Zach Kelly at the Buccaneer 7 yard line with 51 seconds remaining and forcing a Wildcat time-out.

Kelly's first down pass to tailback Todd Bourgeois got the Cats to the 2 yard line and out of bounds to stop the clock at 44 seconds and Kelly scored the go ahead and eventual game winning touchdown on the next play to give Silliman their first lead of the night at 19-14 with 36 seconds left in regulation.

Silliman’s two-point conversion attempt failed.

Silliman secured the 21-14 win as a mishandled Bowling Green snap on third down found its’ way out of the back of the end zone with 8 seconds remaining.

“We started off slow,” said Silliman quarterback Cobb Kelly. “They forced a couple of fumbles and scored but we stayed in the game. Our coaches made some good adjustments at the half and we came out as a team. Our line did a great job and we managed to put up 21 points. It was a tough game and we knew coming in it would be. It’s a good feeling to know we already have a playoff spot.”

Kelly (Photo left) went 10/19 passing for 163 yards and 2 touchdowns and rushed for 148 yards on 20 carries and a score.

Trey Rockforte had 3 receptions for 65 yards and a touchdown and Zach Kelly had 4 receptions for 55 yards and a score.

Patrick Roublow led Bowling Green with 63 yards on 18 carries.

Silliman improves to 4-3 and 3-0 in District 6-AA play and will host Copiah next week. Bowling Green falls to 4-3 and 1-1 in district play and will host Brookhaven.

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Post Game with Silliman head coach TJ Davis

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