BOBCAT FROSH PUTS DOWN PANTHERS
By Marc Atwood
marcatwood@aol.com
 
(10/18/07 Chico,CA) The Paradise freshman football team gained a 12-7 win over Chico Thursday at the Panthers' home field.
 
On the Bobcats' opening drive, a 21-yard run by Blake Hendrix gave them a first down at the Chico 13-yard line. The Panthers took over possession two plays later on a fumble recovery. The Chico offense failed to get a first down, so they punted the ball and Matt Smoots returned it for a touchdown. The two-point conversion attempt was unsuccessful, so Paradise opened up with a 6-0 advantage.
 
Early in the second quarter, a 15-yard run by Seth Prinz gave the Bobcats a first down at midfield. The drive ended two plays later on an interception by Panther defender Jason Weinrich. A 10-yard run by Brett Loughlin gave Chico a first down at the Paradise 49-yard line. They faced a third and 18, but Jamie Hardman gained only four yards, leading to a punt.
 
A long run by Jordan Dobrich with 4 1/2 minutes left in the second allowed the Bobcats to earn a first down at the Panthers' 27-yard line. The drive came to an end on third and long when Smoots was dropped for a loss. Chico tied the score on Hardman's long touchdown run with 36 seconds left in the first half. The extra point was added to put the Panthers ahead 7-6.
 
Paradise started a drive at the Chico 42-yard line with 7 1/2 minutes left in the game on Smoots' punt return. A nine-yard gain on second a 2 moved the Bobcats to the 25-yard line. Dobrich later added a nine-yard gain to reach the 12-yard line. The drive ended with 3:57 to go as Dylan Franci scored a touchdown on a four-yard run. Paradise was stopped short on the two-point conversion attempt. However, the Bobcat defense helped seal the win by keeping the Panthers from moving the ball the rest of the game.