Bobcats meet Osceola Indians on home field

By RICHARD HETTINGER

On a nice rainy wet evening, a perfect night for football, the Drexel Boy Scouts presented the colors and the Bobcat Band played the National Anthem before the Bobcats and Indians took the home field last Friday night. Booker Page was honored to carry the “Big Hit Stick” leading the Bobcats onto the field. Senior Captains, Tony Otto, Zack McMahan, Joe Roberts and Blake Hadley, won the toss and chose to receive the opening kick-off.
Trevor Cooley received the kick-off and made a nice run back to the Drexel 44 to start the game. After making a couple first downs, Drexel turned the ball over on downs on the Indians 33 yard line. After forcing the Indians to punt, the Bobcats again took over deep in their own territory. After some good yardage on pass plays and laterals, Drexel drove the ball down to the Indians’ 17 yard line. Incomplete passes and penalties stalled the drive and Osceola again took over on downs. On the Indians’ first play from scrimmage, Joe Roberts made one of his many good defensive plays in the first half and threw the runner for a 10 yard loss. This ended the first quarter with zeros on the scoreboard.
The Bobcats again stopped Osceola and forced a punt and took over on their own 32 yard line. The Bobcats fumbled and Osceola took over on Drexel’s 22 yard line. After another good defensive stand, the Indians were forced to punt and Drexel again took over on their own 20. On the first play from scrimmage, Hadley with a lateral from Seba, raced the 80 yards for the touchdown. Shipley kicked the extra point and Drexel led 7-0 with 9:19 left in the second quarter. Cody Hargreaves injured an ankle while blocking for the touchdown and was out for the rest of the game.
Osceola drove the length of the field and while they were breaking away for a long run, Justin Wheeler saved the touchdown on a tackle at the 13 yard line. The Bobcats stopped the Indians behind the line of scrimmage but was penalized for a horse collar tackle thus giving Osceola the ball; first down on the 8 where they eventually scored but were stopped on the 2 point try. Drexel 7 Osceola 6 with 4:34 left in the 2nd quarter. After an exchange of possessions, Osceola punted to Hadley and again he made a long run for the score. Shipley kicked the P.A.T. making the score Drexel 14-Osceola 6. All this just to have the Indians take the kick-off back for a 85 yard TD. The 2-point play was good, tying the score at 14.
Before the half ....
Read the complete story in the Spetember 10th edition.
PHOTO: Drexel freshman Dylan Morgan tries to catch runningback Lenny Kubilus of the Osceola Indians during the first home game of the season last Friday night. Photo by Stacy Rice