Fans Pack The House…Bring The Noise!
Bobcats Battle Through Mexico Defense For Quarterfinal Victory At Home
April M. Fronick • Editor
april@thepeoplestribune.com
Bowling Green’s arsenal is filled with weapons and the proof is in the record as the Bobcats made it a baker’s dozen for the year with a 34-7 win over Mexico in the state quarterfinal on Saturday.
The Bobcats got the job done against a tough Mexico defense, lighting the board in the first and second quarters, going into the break on top 14-0. Mexico answered with a TD in the third to threaten, but the Bobcats found another gear with three unanswered scores for the 34-7 victory.
“I love all my kids,” said Coach Jimmy Tucker. “They’re an awesome football team and they’re responding well to adversity when adversity happens and they don’t panic. They keep playing football and that’s what championship teams do.”
He added the team is filled with weapons on both sides of the ball, pointing to standout performances from the Pease brothers, Matt Brown and Ryan Cox.
“We’re such a complete football team it’s hard to brag on one person,” Tucker remarked.
The perfect 13-0 state-ranked Bobcats will travel to St. Louis Priory High School’s Busch Field this Saturday for the state semifinal. The Rebels are 8-5 for the season and advanced with a 35-12 victory in the quarterfinal over New Madrid.

Huntley Leverenz kicked things off for the Bobcats with the first touchdown of the tilt on a one-yard run into the end zone following a big reception from Blake Robbins. Leverenz had 30 yards for the day on 10 carries and one reception for seven yards. Defensively Levernez contributed two tackles and four assists and took part in one of the three sacks.
In the second quarter it was Matt Brown who stood tall, busting through two tackles to carry the ball in on a 25-yard pass from Ryan Cox. Brown also had four tackles and a 12-yard punt return.
Despite a big 32-yard touchdown by Mexico’s Austin Reed in the opening minutes of the third, the Bobcats were quick to answer as Cox carried the ball in on a five-yard run.
Two more TDs were registered in the fourth by Zach Pease. The first was a staggering 73-yard on a quarterback sneak. The second and final touchdown of the match was a 10-yard run. Zach Pease had four carries for 95 yards. He also had two receptions for 21 yards, a 20-yard punt return and contributed 3.5 tackles and an assist defensively.
Cox was 11-15 for 160 yards of passing offense. The Bobcats also had 166 yards rushing for a total of 326 yards of offense. Mexico had 204 yards of total offense. The biggest statistical difference, besides the score, was the time of possession as the Bobcats controlled play more than three times longer than Mexico.
Tucker gave the Bulldogs and their coaches a lot of credit for battling harder and longer than other teams Bowling Green has faced.
“They’re better-coached and more diciplined on defense,” Tucker said. “When we jumped on them they didn’t quit.”
Bowling Green’s 12th man was large and in charge on Saturday as fans packed the place and made sure the team knew they were behind them for a true home field advantage. Extra stands were brought in to accommodate the Bowling Green faithful and the large Mexico contingency.
“Our kids were so excited to see all the people,” Tucker commented. “It was a great atmostphere and they did a good job. They weren’t real tight and they kept focused.”
Tucker said he hasn’t seen Priory, but scouted the team in the quarterfinal. He noted that Bowling Green has seen a lot of different types of teams over the season and that will help as they take on Priory, a school with a strong tradition.
“They’ve seen everything. You’ve seen everything. It comes down to who wants it more and who’s willing to make more plays and hopefully have more talent than they do,” Tucker said.
He added the team will take full advantage of the week to prepare for the semifinal tilt, the last game before play moves to the Edward Jones Dome for the championship on Saturday, Nov. 28.
“We’re going to enjoy this one,” Tucker noted after the victory on Saturday.
Jubilant players flooded the field following the win.
“I’m ready to go all the way. We have to step up and play good,” Jeff Pease said of the next step. Jeff Pease had an exciting interception that went all the way into the end zone, but was called back on a penalty. He had 32 yards on five carries, 24 yards on two punt returns and contributed a tackle and two assists.
Offensively, Roger Walkley had five carries for five yards rushing, Tom Lathrop had two carries for two yards, Joey Ringhausen had two carries for two yards and Jared Feather had a carry for nine yards.
Cody Spegal had three receptions for 30 yards, Tyler Behlmann had two receptions for 55 yards and Blake Robbins had two receptions for 22 yards.
Defensively, Devan Cobb was a tank, leading the way for the Bobcats with eight tackles, eight assists and two sacks. Geoff Correnti had six tackles and four assists, Devan Schuckenbrock had 4.5 tackles and three assists, Jared Feather had 3.5 tackles and an assist., Marc Gibson had three tackles and two assists, and Brett Cobb had 2.5 tackles and an assist. The Bobcats also got tackle support from Tyler Smith, Jeff Niemeyer, Blake Robbins, Taylor Harris, Tom Pugh and Cody McClain.
Listen to the archived TribCast at www.thepeoplestribune.com and hear the state semifinal live in crystal clear sound. Pregame begins at 1:15 p.m. and the kick off is at 1:30 p.m. from St. Louis Priory High School.