BOWLING GREEN, Mo. — It took just one possession for the Bowling Green Bobcats to pick up their first W of the season as they defeated Louisiana 68-6 and retained the Mayor’s Cup.

Louisiana opened the game by turning the ball over on downs. Then with Bowling Green’s first possession, senior quarterback Dylan Dalton found Marcus Starks, who made his first trip to the endzone, with the two-point conversion the Bobcats took the 8-0 lead and never looked back. The Bulldogs lone score on the night came on a Bobcat fumble that senior Bulldog Kenny McCormick gobbled up and took to the endzone.

Louisiana entered Friday’s battle shorthanded as senior running back Wyatt Harrison remained on the sideline with an injury that coach Greg Pitzer labeled day to day. The first half wasn’t kind to the Bulldogs roster, as two more players went down with injuries that kept them out of the game for the whole second half. Pitzer noted that they knew coming into Friday night’s game it was going to a tough one.

“Everybody knows Bowling Green is Bowling Green, they are one of the best teams in the area,” said Pitzer. “They are going to contend for a state title – that’s my belief.”

Pitzer added that they as a team were just going to have to go back and look at the tape to find areas where they can improve before heading off to face Crystal City in week two.

As for the Bobcats, everything was going right for their squad scoring two times in the first two possessions. Bobcat Bleyne Bryant found his way into the school history books as he recorded the second longest run for a touchdown with 91 yards. Senior Brandon Gamm made his way into the MSHSAA record books on a return for a touchdown. Then in the second half, sparks from underclassman came from sophomore quarterback Jace Eskew and running back Dane Dunn.

Defensively, all cylinders were firing as well, lead by junior Harrison Hunt who found his way in the backfield throughout the game. Bryson Brandenburger and Aiden Grote kept the Bulldog offense on their toes as well.

“Louisiana has a good offense,” said Bobcat Head Coach Joe Chinn. “A good running game and we were able to kind of shut them down early.”

The Bobcats remain at home for week two as they welcome in longtime foe Palmyra. In 2021, Bowling Green got their first ever varsity win over the Panthers and are looking to make it two in a row.

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