Battle in Baldwin ends with Bobcat victory

The Erath Bobcats ended a shootout with the West St. Mary Wolfpack with a 22-20 victory that put the Bobcats at 3-6 on the season. The win is their second in district play and a big recovery from last week’s loss to Kaplan.

It was a game that ended on a very intense note, with a West St. Mary player punching a referee over a disagreement. Prior to that, West St. Mary coaches were in heated arguments with the game’s officials, leaving Erath residents departing Baldwin with concerns over player safety.

The Bobcats’ win sets them up for a fierce week ten battle against North Vermilion, who also had a very close game against West St. Mary earlier in the season.

“The whole third quarter, they controlled the ball,” said head coach Doug Dotson. “Our guys came back and won. It was great.”

The Bobcats were led on offense by Ty Bares and Elijah Mitchell.

“Elijah played an incredible game,” Dotson said. “He’s been playing way above his age level. Ty being back at 100 percent was great. They both ran like we knew they were capable of doing.”

The pair were able, according to Dotson, to keep the ball spread out on the field and move it will, keeping the West St. Mary defense on their toes. Bares was back in the head spot for the Bobcats, having recovered from an ankle injury last week against Kaplan.

Now the big challenge is against North Vermilion, the biggest rivalry game Erath has all year, and Dotson says the players are excited.

“I think the kids have been excited for this one all year,” he said. “You’ve really got two teams in the hunt for the playoffs, we’re both fighting for the same thing. I can’t wait, and I know they can’t wait.”

The two teams already met once this year at the jamboree held in Kaplan. However, Dotson explained that there is a big difference there.

“We’re two different teams,” he said. “What you have in the jamboree is a lot different than where you’ll be in week ten. Coach Byler and I know each other, and there will be no secrets as to what we can do.”

Last year, the two teams met in Erath, with the Bobcats winnings 29-28 in the final seconds of the game. Both coaches have acknowledged that, records aside, the game will be intense and emotional as both teams give it their all.

And, the communities that house the schools will also be involved.

“We both have really strong, supportive communities,” Dotson said. “They’re with us at every game, and they get into it. It will be really exciting to go play over there.”

The Friday night rivalry game will be held in Leroy, with the Bobcats traveling for their final game of the regular season. Kickoff, as usual, is set for 7 p.m. at North Vermilion.