Catholic notches a last-second win
Catholic High won a nail-biter in their season opener against Arkansas High School in Texarkana, Arkansas. The Razorbacks (Arkansas High School shares the fight song, colors, and Hog Call with the flagship university)—gave Catholic all they could handle. But a touchdown in the game’s final seconds pushed the Rockets past the Razorbacks and gave Coach Cochran his first win as head coach.
Catholic turned the ball over on downs on their first offensive series. However, they quickly got it back after holding Texarkana to a three-and-out punt. This time, the Rocket offense was able to cash in on excellent defense: a big run from Noel Lewis followed by a quarterback sneak from Jackson England got the Rockets on the board for the only score of the first quarter.
Catholic extended their seven-to-nothing lead in the second quarter backed by impressive defense. Linebacker Christopher Pace shutdown Texarkana’s first drive with a quarterback sack. Hayden Roaf, playing defensive back, intercepted a pass and put the Rockets in scoring territory. Then it was the offense’s turn to shine. Sophomore running back Luke Burdine ran for a touchdown, which ended the second quarter with the Rockets up 14 – 0.
In the third quarter, momentum started to swing toward the Razorbacks. Catholic was able to stop a long Texarkana drive, but after punting the ball away for the second time, Texarkana finally scored. Then the Rockets fumbled—but the Razorbacks never capitalized—and the Rockets escaped the third quarter still in the lead 14 – 7.
Texarkana jumped on Catholic High early in the fourth, completing a sixty-five-yard touchdown pass. Rather than settling for an extra point, the Razorbacks lined up in a swinging-gate formation, grabbed the two points, and slammed the gate on Catholic’s lead. In the next possession, Texarkana intercepted England, but Catholic’s defense kept them from scoring. England was again picked off in what seemed like the Rockets’ final opportunity.
With their backs against the wall late in the fourth, the Rockets still had hope: they had two timeouts. The Rockets burned both timeouts on the Razorbacks’ first two downs, made a huge stand, and forced a Texarkana punt. Lewis converted a first down, which would presumably set up a game-winning field goal. But after two Texarkana timeouts, the Rockets got in shotgun formation. England then connected with Roaf for a touchdown as time ran out, and the Rockers walked off the field victorious.
Senior quarterback Jackson England sees their first win of the 2024 season as a total team effort. “My mindset going into the drive was to forget what had previously happened in the fourth quarter, and I relayed that to my teammates. I had all the faith in the world that my guys could block and make plays, and that is exactly what they did. That final drive was what Catholic High and myself represent: that ‘get back up’ attitude,” said England.
After the game, players rallied around Coach Cochran for a ceremonial gatorade shower, in honor of his first win as a head coach. “Outside the school it would seem that sliding into the responsibility of head coach would be stressful, but I have always been doing this. It is just my style to be a leader to the boys and a brother when they graduate. I am grateful to have a staff and a team that I know and trust. To have a familial relationship with this program makes it all the less stressful,” said Coach Cochran.
The Rockets will have a bye week and then they are on the road again, this time all the way to Frisco, Texas, to play at the Star against Nolan Catholic on Friday, September 14.
