Bobcats barrel past Lexington

After struggling in the season opener at Red Bay last week, Luke Barnwell was on target as he led the Phil Campbell Bobcats past the Lexington Golden Bears 34-7 in the region opener.

Barnwell completed 11 of 15 passes for 157 yards and two touchdowns. He also ran the ball nine times for 71 yards and two touchdowns.

Phil Campbell’s offense was firing on all cylinders for 427 total yards – 270 on the ground and 157 through the air.

Trey Leindecker carried the ball 18 times for 137 yards and a touchdown. He was also Barnwell’s favorite target, catching four passes for 104 yards and a touchdown.

Phil Campbell’s defense did its part as well, holding Lexington to 125 total yards. The Golden Bears were one-dimensional, only able to gain eight yards through the air.

Phil Campbell scored first with 8:55 to go in the first quarter when Barnwell ran the ball in from 15 yards out for the touchdown. Abraham Gonzalez nailed the first of four extra points on the night to give the Bobcats a 7-0 lead.

Phil Campbell scored again with 6:15 to go in the first quarter when Barnwell hit Leindecker for an 88-yard touchdown pass. A two-point conversion attempt failed, giving the Bobcats a 13-0 lead.

The Golden Bears got their only score of the night with 8:37 to go in the second quarter to cut Phil Campbell’s lead to 13-7.

After that, it was all Bobcats. Phil Campbell scored 21 unanswered points.

With 4:40 to go in the second quarter, Barnwell scampered for a 27-yard touchdown run to give Phil Campbell a 20-7 lead. Phil Campbell scored again just before halftime on a 21-yard pass from Barnwell to Ridge Raper.

The Bobcats added a late 44-yard touchdown run by Leindecker to cap off the scoring on the night.

Phil Campbell will host Clements Friday night.