By Bart Moss for the FCT

The Phil Campbell Bobcats fell behind early to the Lamar County Bulldogs and mounted a comeback that fell just short.

Lamar County jumped out to a 14-0 lead in the first quarter before the Bobcats would get their first score.  Peyton Thomas connected with Joe Hardy for a 30-yard touchdown pass. Daniel Smith’s extra point was blocked, making the score 14-6.

Lamar County returned the ensuing kickoff to retake the momentum and extend their lead to 21-6.

Phil Campbell squandered a chance to score to close out the first half. The Bobcats drove all the way to the Lamar County three-yard line but were unable to get the ball into the endzone.

Phil Campbell held Lamar County scoreless in the third quarter, and early in the fourth quarter, Thomas connected with Hardy a second time for a touchdown pass – this one going for 11 yards. The two-point conversion attempt failed, making the score 21-12.

The Bobcats forced a three and out on Lamar County’s next drive.

Phil Campbell pulled closer to Lamar County when Thomas hit Austin Riner for a 15-yard touchdown strike to make the score 21-19 with seven minutes to go in the game.

The Bobcats would get one more chance to take the lead and the win, but their last drive ended in an interception.

“This was a tough one to lose,” said Phil Campbell Coach Ryan Swinney. “We have a tough stretch of the schedule coming up, and we really needed this game. We just didn’t make the right plays at the right time, and we made some costly mistakes early on.”

Phil Campbell will host Sheffield Friday night.