Bobcats shut out St Patrick in season opening romp

Southern Sports & Travel

It seemed as though it was over before started.

Presbyterian kicked off the 2013 MAIS football season last night in Hattiesburg in grand fashion as the Bobcats hammered MHSAA 3A St. Patrick 41-0 before a large and appreciative home crowd.

Tailback Fate Eiland rushed for 158 yards on 8 carries and scored three touchdowns to propel a Bobcat offense that scored on four of its’ six first half possessions.

Presbyterian took the opening possession of the evening and after two bobbled snaps on their first two plays went right to work in producing a 7 play, 68 yard drive to take a quick lead.

Fate Eiland cracked off a 29 yard run to the Irish 38 yard line followed by quarterback Rand Henderson’s 10 yard hookup with Chris Herrin to the St. Patrick 28. Three plays later Henderson would find senior tight end Brendan Jones down the middle of the field for an 18 yard touchdown pass at the 8:22 mark of the opening quarter of play.

Troy Waites added the PAT to give Presbyterian a 7-0 advantage.

Presbyterian would force St. Patrick’s offense into a quick three and out on the Irish’s first possession and the Bobcats wasted little time in hitting pay-dirt once again.

Facing a fourth and two at their own 37 yard line, tailback Fate Eiland (Photo left) burst through an opening around the right side and sprinted 63 yards for a score. Waites added the PAT as Presbyterian doubled their lead to 14-0 with 5:02 still remaining in the first quarter. 

St. Patrick moved 36 yards to the Bobcat 44 yard line on the ensuing possession but Presbyterian defensive end Michael George recovered a Cliff Horn fumble at the 46 to halt the drive with 3:06 left in the quarter.

The turnover proved costly for St. Patrick as Presbyterian capitalized in rapid fashion.

Sophomore tailback Cameron Scott scampered 45 yards on first down to the Irish 9 yard line and then punched it in on the next play to increase the margin to 20-0.

Troy Waites’ PAT made it 21-0 with 2:47 remaining in the quarter.

Presbyterian took their first possession of the second quarter and made quick work of the Irish defense going 46 yards in just three plays as Fate Eiland plowed in from 1 yard out at the 10:19 mark of the quarter to give the Bobcats a 28-0 lead, one they would enjoy through intermission.

Eiland would bag his third touchdown of the night at the 6:44 mark of the third quarter on a 12 yard run to cap a 4 play, 41 yard drive.

Presbyterian’s final score of the evening came from the defense. Junior defensive back Jay Simpson picked off an Anthony Migues pass and returned it 73 yards with 4:20 left in the contest to give the Bobcats a 41-0 cushion.

Sophomore tailback Cameron Scott (Photo above) complimented Eiland’s 158 rushing yards with 56 of his own on 5 carries and a score and senior Chris Herrin added 15 yards on two carries. 
"Our defense and offense really played well tonight," said Fate Eiland. "We need to continue to improve and have a good week of practice next week to get ready for a tough MRA team."

Presbyterian will travel to Madison next Friday night to battle third ranked MRA. The last meeting between the two was in 2008 with MRA shutting out the Bobcats 30-0.

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Post Game with Presbyterian Head Coach Joey Hawkins