Wildcats and Bobcats get set to tangle in playoff showdown

The Enterprise Wildcats (7-3) will hit the road this week to face off with the No. 4-ranked Theodore Bobcats (9-1) on Friday, Nov. 6, as the Class 7A State Playoffs get underway.

Enterprise is coming off a frustrating 42-28 loss on the road to Navarre (Fla.) to close the regular season, while Theodore has won nine straight games.

The Bobcats lost their season-opener to Saraland 42-21 but since that point have won six of the next nine games by 20 points or more, including three shutouts. Theodore has also scored 47 points or more in each of the past three games.

Enterprise and Theodore have just one common opponent, Davidson, with the Bobcats beating Davidson 34-0 on Oct. 4 and Enterprise earning a 52-13 win over Davidson on Sept. 11.

Neither team needs more motivation than this being a playoff game but Theodore may have some added motivation, as well. Last season, Enterprise upset Theodore 28-27 in a wild regular season finale.

Despite Theodore going up 21-0 early in the game, and leading by three scores with just over six minutes remaining, the Wildcats managed to make a ferocious come back to pick up the win.

The Theodore offense is averaging 28 points per game and the Bobcat defense is giving up 13 points per game. On the other side, the Wildcats are averaging 36 points per game and giving up 23.5 points per game.

The Bobcat offense has been balanced this season totaling 3,144 net yards over the season averaging 206 yards rushing per game.

Theodore quarterback Landon Hirtreiter has thrown for 1,023 yards and 12 touchdowns with three interceptions in 2020, while running back TJ Richardson has rushed for 940 yards and eight touchdowns. Fellow running back Kiersten Rogers has rushed for 608 yards and eight touchdowns.

The Wildcats are averaging 404 yards per game this season and giving up an average of 298 yards per game.

The Wildcat offense is led by athlete Josh McCray who has rushed for 714 yards and 10 touchdowns along with 413 yards and six touchdowns receiving. He’s also netting 570 yards and two touchdowns on kickoff returns and completed two passes for 35 yards. In total, McCray has 1,732 all-purpose yards and 18 total touchdowns.

Running back Mykel Johnson has 828 yards and eight touchdowns and receiver Jared Smith has 349 yards and five touchdowns receiving. Quarterback Quentin Hayes has 1,244 yards passing and a school-record 17 touchdowns with five interceptions this season. Hayes also has 468 yards and four touchdowns rushing.

Senior linebacker LZ Leonard leads the defense with 80 total tackles, 9.5 tackles-for-loss, 5.5 sacks and 13 quarterback hurries, while Tanner Rogers has 66 total tackles, 6.5 tackles-for-loss, 2.5 sacks and 11 quarterback hurries. Linebacker Kenyatta McNeese has 50 tackles and 11.5 tackles-for-loss, while defensive tackle Xavier Moore has 42 tackles, 10 tackles-for-loss and six sacks on the year.