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STORY BY TOMMY MANN

ORANGEFIELD — Big plays, turnovers and field position were the keys to the game, and it
was the Woodville Eagles that held the most keys at the end to defeat the Bobcats, 27-7, to
open the 2024 high school football season.

Jeff Breaux, the new Orangefield head football coach, and the Orangefield Bobcats unveiled the
spread offense, a huge change from the Slot-T running attack utilized more than a dozen years
by the Bobcats. Led by quarterback Carson Gonzalez, the Bobcats offense showed flashes of
what they could be, but sputtered in other situations.

Both teams spent the first quarter trying to find their footing as both teams turned the ball over
on fumbles in the first four minutes of the game and had a total of five fumbles in the first half.

It was the Bobcats that struck first. Woodville was back to punt from its own 18-yard
line when Bobcats defender Ryan McAlpin bolted through the line and blocked the kick. McAlpin
scooped the ball up off the grass and rumbled into the end zone for the touchdown. Orangefield
led 7-0 with 8:16 left to play in the first half.

The Eagles high-powered offense only needed three plays to even the score as quarterback
Luke Babin faked a handoff and went up the middle to outrun the Orangefield defense for a 64-
yard touchdown and tie the game, 7-7, following the extra point.

Late in the second quarter, Orangefield running back Mason Manning had run several plays in
the Wildcat formation and had the Bobcats in the red zone. Facing second down and goal-to-go
from the five yard line, Manning was stonewalled on his rushing attempt and had the ball
stripped. Eagles defender Tayvion Hunter picked the ball up and roared 96 yards for the
touchdown to put Woodville ahead at the half, 13-7.

The third quarter belonged to the Eagles. Gonzalez had a pass deflected into the hands of a
waiting Woodville defender on the second play of the third quarter. A short time later the Eagles
struck again as Babin connected with running back Zayon Williams on a 16-yard touchdown
pass and a 19-7 Woodville lead following the failed two-point attempt.

The Eagles forced Orangefield to punt on its next possession and took over at the Bobcats 36-
yard line following the punt return. Three plays later Babin tossed another touchdown pass as
he hit K.D. McDaniel in stride down the middle for a 26-yard score. The two-point conversion
was successful and put Woodville ahead, 27-7.

The Bobcats offense finished the night with 207 total yards. Gonzalez completed eight passes
on 21 attempts for 56 yards. Kyler Green led the Bobcats receiving corps with 24 yards, while
Manning led the Orangefield running backs with 92 yards on 13 carries.

Orangefield dropped both contests against the Eagles in 2023. The Bobcats lost a hard-fought,
non-district game at home and then were routed in a rematch in the bi-district round of the
playoffs in Lumberton.

Orangefield hits the road next week for a game against the New Waverly Bulldogs at 7 p.m.,
Friday, Sept. 6.