Phil Campbell quarterback Peyton Thomas scrambles inside the 10 yard line.

By Josh Prewitt

For the FCT

The Bobcats were put in a tough situation early as Phillips senior running back Josef Bates exploded with two key interceptions returned back for touchdowns to give the Bears an early 16-0 lead in the first quarter at Parrish Stadium in Phil Campbell.

After a shaky first quarter, Phil Campbell would get on the board before the second with a five-yard touchdown run by RB/FB/DE Colby Baker to dig into the Bears lead 16-7.

Phil Campbell had a crucial drive turned over on downs inside Phillips 30 yard line. The Bears capitalized with a huge 61-yard bomb up the middle by RB Flores to the nine-yard line, where he would follow up with a nine-yard touchdown run to increase their lead to 32-7 in the second.

Phil Campbell got a spark before the half with a big punt return from WR/CB Austin Riner that resulted in and eight-yard touchdown pass from QB/FS Peyton Thomas to WR/TE Noah Williams, making score 32-13 at halftime.

The second half was a shootout.

The Bobcats started out the third quarter with a big stop on defense and answered with a 27-yard touchdown pass from Thomas to Riner to get the crowd into the game, closing the score gap to 32-19 early in the second half.

The Bears, though, would continue their explosive offensive play with a 50-yard touchdown run and two-point conversion to go up to 40-19 in the third quarter.

Phil Campbell followed up with a quick score under three minutes as Thomas completed a pass to RB/WR/DE Grant Masterson then ended by a touchdown run by RB/LB Trey Nalls with 5:16 left before the fourth and still down 40-25.

The Phillips Bears didn’t let up, their offense clicking on all cylinders, scoring with a 27-yard touchdown run to mount a 48-25 lead late in the third.

Just before the fourth, Thomas found a wide-open Riner streaking down the sidelines to score on a 27-yard touchdown pass to go into the fourth quarter down 48-31.

Phil Campbell’s Thomas, after a quick score from Phillips, put the Bobcats on his back as he started out with a 35-yard pass to Masterson then strung some more passes to Masterson and Williams, capped off by another touchdown run by Nalls to eat into the Bears’ lead 56-37 midway through the fourth.

Despite another score by Phillips, the Bobcats score the last touchdown of the game, but it wouldn’t be enough, as the Phillips Bears would win the high scoring 62-45 game.

“Offensively we had a great game, scoring most points we have all year, but we couldn’t get off the field defensively,” Swinney said. “They gashed us all night.”

Peyton Thomas finished with 281 total yards with four total touchdowns (three pass, one run). The Bobcats finished with 165 rushing yards and four touchdowns, led by Trey Nalls’ 59 rush yards on 15 carries and two touchdowns.

“Region play starts back next week,” Swinney said. “If we can beat Tharptown and Cherokee, that probably puts us in the playoffs.”

Phil Campbell (2-4) (1-2) looks to end a three-game losing streak as the Bobcats face Tharptown in their homecoming game this Friday at Parrish Stadium.