The prelude to Senior Night was the Taft High junior varsity football game against the BCHS Eagles. Starting the game strong, Austin Massey, No. 7, scored the first touchdown from a pass from Logan Rolin, No. 11, allowing the ‘Cats to pull ahead quickly. Afterwards, the defense was able to hold back the Eagles, fighting off their attempts to score until the second quarter where Ulises Sanchez, No. 82, caught a pass from No. 11, scoring the second touchdown of the game. At this point, the ‘Cats were winning 14-0. During the third quarter, Coletin Hamblin, No. 1, stopped the opposing team at the 38-yard line, and Jonathon Hopkins, No. 3, tipped a pass from them, almost earning the ‘Cats an interception. Following the attempted pass, BCHS tried for another and Massey was close to obtaining a pass interception.

During third quarter, Wildcat defense managed to hold BCHS at the 40-yard line on their fourth down, turning over the ball. Shortly after the turnover, Blake Boyd, No. 60, injured the opposing team’s No. 57 in a tackle. After pushing much further, the Wildcats fumbled the ball, which almost allowed the enemy Eagles to overtake our position. Luckily, Chad Berry, No. 41, managed to recover it in time, putting BCHS back at the 39-yard line. They fought our defense, but very quickly Rolin intercepted a pass and brought the cats to the 48-yard line.

After a turnover to the fourth quarter, the ‘Cats were back on defense and fighting back hard. The Eagles managed to catch up to our team with a score of 14-13. JV was winning, but barely, as BCHS pushed harder and harder for their chance to top the ‘Cats. Finally, it came down to the last play of the game. BCHS was devastatingly close to winning, with the scores cutting close and our team defending on our ten-yard line. All they had to do was push hard enough to break through. However, the ‘Cats slammed back any attempted pushes made by the Eagles like a brick wall. BCHS reached their fourth down. With ten seconds on the clock and less than five yards to go, they attacked. As the ball was rushed forward, the whole defensive line slammed down on the ball carrier, stopping him in his tracks and winning the game. “Our defense stepped it up big time…We played it smart, it was a good victory.” said Coach Hunter post-game.