Second-half explosion powers ‘Cats past Panthers

By Jeremy Wise

Published: October 10, 2008

After his team managed 57 yards and three points in the first half, Enterprise Wildcats head coach Kevin Collins knew his squad would eventually find the offense.

The Wildcats certainly did, scoring twice in the final four minutes to scrape past the Smiths Station Panthers 23-16 on Homecoming night.

“We had so few offensive snaps that we had no rhythm (in the first half),” Collins said. “We felt like with snaps we’d hit a few big plays.”

They did just that late in the third quarter as Enterprise tied the game at 10-all with a 49-yard touchdown pass from Tony Gray to Xavier Frazier.

“The long pass sparked (the team),” Collins said.

That spark became a roaring flame in the final six minutes of the game.

With the game tied at 10-10, Enterprise got a punt return of 34 yards from Brandon Hart to the Panthers’ 27 with 5:39 left to play.

Six plays later, Enterprise quarterback Gray rushed in for an 8-yard score to put Enterprise up 16-10.

The snap on the extra point was mishandled, leaving the door open for the Panthers, who took advantage.

Their big-play running back Robert Frinks took a screen pass 54 yards for a score.

On the extra point attempt, Enterprise’s Bryant McGowan blocked his fourth point-after attempt this year.

“I just watch the ball and get a jump,” McGowan said, adding he knew he had to take a better angle on the final Smiths Station kick. “I knew I had to step it up.”

“We go over must-block situations,” Collins said, adding his players know their assignments well in those situations. “(McGowan) gets off the ball quick.”

The fire continued on the final Wildcats drive.

On the first play, Gray dropped back to pass, but took off running for a 49-yard gain to the Panthers 27-yard line.

“My receiver was covered. I saw the opening, and I hit it,” Gray said. 

Three plays later, Hart rushed in for a 17-yard score to put Enterprise up 22-16. The extra point from D.J. Kober made the score 23-16 with 23.8 seconds left.

“My hats off to Enterprise. Our guys fought hard. They never quit, but Enterprise made one more play,” said Mark Rose, Smiths Station head coach.

Panthers quarterback Cody Hussey completed one pass for 21 yards, but Frazier intercepted his last pass attempt as the horn sounded.

For as explosive as the fourth quarter was, the rest of the game had few highlights.

The first one came in the first quarter.

On the Panthers’ second drive, quarterback Hussey hit A.J. Williams with a 40-yard touchdown pass to put Smiths Station up 7-0.

A fumbled punt return set the Wildcats up with good field position at the Smiths Station 27, but the Wildcats settled for a 35-yard field goal from Kober.

The Panthers scored on a Nolan Carrero 24-yard field goal as the first half expired to lead 10-3 at halftime.

Enterprise had 11 rushes for 21 yards in the first half.

Gray had three carries for minus-4 yards in the first half, but he exploded in the second half, finishing with 15 carries for 144 yards and 5-of-11 passing for 92
yards.

Frinks led Smiths Station with 15 carries for 63 yards and two receptions for 83 yards.

Roderick Austin had five catches for 77 yards and Williams had four catches for 75 yards as Hussey rolled up 235 yards passing. He completed 11 of his 22
attempts for two touchdowns and two interceptions.

With the win, Enterprise keeps playoff hopes alive as they are 2-3 in region play.

They will host Dothan Friday at 7 p.m.