Orangefield ousted from playoffs by Woodville

The football season for Orangefield came to an end on Thursday, November 9, at Lumberton. The Bobcats were crushed by the Woodville Eagles 51-7 in the first round of the state playoffs.

Orangefield (5-6) finished the season losing its last three games. With the victory Woodville (8-3) advanced to the area round of the post season.

A steady drizzle fell throughout most of the game. The wet conditions did not seem to bother the Eagles very much who lost the ball the only time they fumbled. Orangefield in contrast fumbled seven times losing four of them to the Eagles and two other times the Bobcats lost yardage because of the bobbles on fourth down attempts to get first downs.

Woodville opened the scoring on its initial drive going 59 yards in nine plays. Zayon Williams gained 16 yards on the Panthers first play from scrimmage. Ralon Williams threw 25 yards to Ty'Marion Walker to the Bobcats' 16 yard line.

After a penalty on the Eagles, Ralon and Walker connected again for 15 yards setting up a first and goal at the six. Three plays later Ralon Williams scored on a quarterback keeper to give Woodville a 7-0 lead just over four minutes into the game.

Orangefield on its second possession got a pair of first downs on runs by Mason Manning and Kane Smith. The Bobcats had a second and one at the Woodville 20 before they committed a procedure penalty costing them five yards. The Eagle defense then had back to back tackles behind the line of scrimmage to take over the ball on downs at their 32.

The Eagles punted for the only time in the game on their next possession. Unfortunately, Orangefield fumbled deep in its own territory giving Woodville the ball at the eight.

A penalty pushed the Eagles back to the 13. Three runs by Zayon Williams the last from four yards out got Woodville its second touchdown of the game. Gage Tolar made the score 14-0 with his second successful kick 36 seconds into the second quarter.

That lead lasted only 43 seconds as the Bobcats fumbled on their second play after the kickoff. Tayvion Hunter scooped up the loose ball and returned it for a touchdown at 10:41 of the second period to put the Eagles up by 21 points.

The Bobcats got a nice run from Lane Gipson for a first down to their 42, but a major penalty pushed them back to the 27. Orangefield then punted the ball back to Woodville.

Seldom used Eagle running back Dustin Barlow found a hole and blew through it going 57 yards before being tackled from behind at the Orangefield 8. Zayon Williams scored on the next play to give Woodville a 28-0 lead with 7:07 to play in the first half.

Bobcat quarterback Carson Gonzales completed a pass to Smith for 12 yards and a first down at the Bobcat 42. Smith was tackled after he went out of bounds adding 15 yards to the play moving the ball to the Woodville 43.

Orangefield was facing a fourth down needing between two to three yards to keep the drive alive. The snap was fumbled and Gonzales lost eight yards which foiled the play.

With about three minutes before halftime the Eagles got a first down run from Hayden Hunter and a 21-yard pass completion from Williams to Christian Bean to take the ball to the Bobcat 14. A holding penalty on an apparent touchdown run by Zayon Williams forced Woodville to settle for a 29-yard field goal from Tolar that made the score 31-0 just six seconds before the end of the first half.

The second half started like the Eagles were going to add to their lead, but Ralon Williams fumbled at the Orangefield 11. The Bobcats' Riley Hooks recovered the ball at the 10 yard line.

The Bobcats put together a ten play drive getting three first downs in the process moving to their 45 before a penalty pushed them back five yards. Manning got those five yards back, but on third down another fumble gave the ball back to Woodville.

The Eagles needed one play to score from the Orangefield 43 as Zayon Williams swept left end and tight roped down the sidelines for the touchdown. Tolar's kick put Woodville ahead 38-0 with three minutes left in the third quarter.

A fumble on a fourth down attempt turned the ball over on downs for the Bobcats on their next possession. Ralon Williams aired out his long passing game throwing a perfect 46 yard bomb that dropped into Walker's hands as he stepped into the end zone for the touchdown twenty seconds into the fourth quarter.

Responding to that score Orangefield got a 42-yard run from Fernando Sandoval-Rodriguez to the Eagles' 26. Smith gained seven yards and Sandoval-Rodriguez had another 11-yard run before Smith scored the touchdown from the eight. Ty Butler kicked the point after to make the score 45-7 with 9:10 left in the game.

The excitement for the Orangefield fans lasted about half a minute as Walker ran back the ensuing kickoff 79 yards for the final touchdown of the game. The try for two points was fumbled keeping the score 51-7 which is how the game ended.

The Bobcats totaled 213 yards of offense with 187 rushing and 28 passing. Fernando Sandoval-Rodriguez was the leading ball carrier for Orangefield with 95 yards on 12 carries. Kane Smith ran for 40 yards with the only Bobcat touchdown, Mason Manning rushed for 37 yards, and Lane Gipson gained 30 yards.

Woodville's Zayon Williams finished the night with right at 100 yards on 13 carries and three touchdowns. Ralon Williams completed 8 of his 11 passes for 181 yards and a touchdown. Ty'Marion Walker was the Eagles' primary receiver with 4 catches for 92 yards and a touchdown.