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Story by Tommy Mann, Special to The Orange Leader

ORANGEFIELD – The Bobcats offense exhibited some firepower and the defense shut down the opposing offense as Orangefield came away with a 28-7 win over the St. Louis Saints of Lake Charles, LA. on Friday night.

The Bobcats defense set the tone from the start as they forced the Saints to punt on the first possession. From there, the Orangefield offense took over and needed just five plays to march 80 yards for a 7-0 lead when Mason Manning rumbled in for a 1-yard touchdown run. The score was set up by 36-yard run to the goal line by quarterback Carson Gonzalez.

The Orangefield defense was swarming all over the Saints in the first half. The St. Louis offense had six possessions during the first half, and three of those possessions ended in three-and-outs.

Gonzalez connected with receiver Zach Morrow on a 26 yard touchdown pass late in the first quarter for a 14-0 Bobcats lead following the Ty Butler extra point. Manning added an 8-yard touchdown run just before half to put Orangefield ahead 21-0 at intermission.

St. Louis finally found some consistency in the fourth quarter. Quarterback Konner Boudreaux guided the Saints downfield on a 51 yard, 8-play drive consuming nearly 4:30 off the clock. Facing third down and six from the 7-yard line, Boudreaux rolled to his left and tossed a short pass to Charlie Trappey who roared into the end zone for the score to reduce the Bobcats lead to 21-7.

Just when it looked as if the Saints finally some momentum, the Bobcats took it away and only needed two plays to do it. Gonzalez connected with Manning on a 12-yard pass to the Bobcats 37-yard line on the first play and then found a wide-open Morrow deep behind the Saints defense for a 63-yard bomb and the 28-7 Orangefield victory.

The Orangefield offense generated 437 total yards on the night. Gonzalez had his way with the Saints defense, throwing for 211 yards and two touchdowns. He contributed 73 rushing yards for the night as well. Receiver Zach Morrow had 4 receptions for 126 yards and two touchdowns.

When Gonzalez wasn’t throwing over the Saints defense, Manning was fighting for hard yards on the ground. Behind an offensive line that was in total control, Manning rushed for 104 yards and two touchdowns, while adding four catches for 52 yards. Running back Jose Lecea had eight carries for 49 yards on the night as well.

The Orangefield defense limited the Saints to 140 total yards of offense on the night with most of it coming in the fourth quarter.

Orangefield (2-2) will begin district next Friday as the Bobcats host the Hardin Hornets. Hardin (4-0) defeated the Tarkington Longhorns, 27-14, on Friday night to remain undefeated.