Enterprise falls to Theodore in playoff battle

The Enterprise Wildcats couldn’t hold on to a halftime lead on Friday, Nov. 6, as the No. 4-ranked Theodore Bobcats managed to secure a 40-28 win in the opening round of the Class 7A Playoffs.

The playoff matchup featured the No. 8-ranked offense in Class 7A, Theodore, against the No. 9-ranked offense, Enterprise, in what ended up being a defensive battle in the first half.

In the second half, however, penalties, a big turnover and a familiar weakness spelled the end of the 2020 season for the Wildcats. Enterprise has struggled to stop the running game all season long and Theodore took advantage of that fact to the tune of 359 yards on the ground.

“Defending the run obviously (was the biggest issue),” Enterprise coach Rick Darlington said. “They ran for a bunch of yards and had a bunch of big plays. In all of the games we’ve lost – except for Prattville – that’s what’s happened. We’ve given up a lot of yards on the ground.”

When the Wildcats look back on the game the struggles with the run defense will surely stick out but penalties will also be a glaring issue. Enterprise was penalized 14 times for a total of 130 yards in the loss. Two penalties wiped out Wildcat touchdowns, as well.

Another penalty may have ended up being the difference in the game, too. Facing a third-and-12 from the Theodore 37-yard line, and trailing Theodore 27-21, an Enterprise pass was intercepted near the 20 yard line by Bobcat defender Tye Marion and returned for a touchdown.

An official threw a penalty near midfield during the return in what seemed to be a block in the back by a Theodore player, but the officials called a personal foul instead – again, during the play – but the touchdown still stood. Enterprise continued to fight after that play but was never able to tie the game up again.

Theodore wasted no time to start the game as the Bobcats went ahead 7-0 with 10:28 left in the first quarter on a 36-yard touchdown run from running back TJ Richardson, but Enterprise answered as quarterback Quentin Hayes tossed a 57-yard scoring pass to Jared Smith with 8:53 left to tie the game up 7-7. Hayes threw the touchdown on a second-and-30 after Enterprise had been penalized two straight plays.

Theodore drove into Enterprise territory again but the Wildcat defense held strong and forced a turnover on downs. The Wildcats drove into Theodore territory before being forced to punt.

On third-and-long, Theodore quarterback Landen Hirtreiter was intercepted by Enterprise cornerback Marshawn Fitpatrick at the Enterprise 45-yard line.

As the second quarter began, Enterprise drove inside the Theodore 10-yard line but were unable to score. A Matt Sheahan field goal was then blocked by the Bobcats.

Theodore retook the lead on a 19-yard run from Richardson with 5:32 left in the first half but Jaylon Webster blocked the PAT keeping the Theodore lead at 13-7.

Enterprise drove deep into Theodore territory again but a penalty and sack saddled the Wildcats with a third-and-22 from the Bobcat 25. Hayes then threw a strike to Smith for a 25-yard touchdown pass with 1:55 remaining in the half. The PAT gave Enterprise its first lead of the game 14-13.

Theodore managed to drive inside the Enterprise 10-yard line with 25 seconds remaining, but Wildcat cornerback Jalen Cunningham made a leaping interception in the end zone to secure the 14-13 Enterprise lead going into halftime.

Enterprise running back Mykel Johnson exploded for a 63-yard gain to start the second half and two plays later Josh McCray scored on a 2-yard run to extend the Enterprise lead to 21-13 with 9:33 left in the third quarter.

The Wildcat defense looked like it had forced a three-and-out to open the third quarter but a penalty on fourth down gave the Bobcats a free first down. Richardson then raced 47 yards on the next play and running back Kierstan Rogers scored on a 7-yard run with 7:00 left in the third quarter. The two-point try failed and Enterprise’s lead remained 21-19.

Enterprise turned the ball over on downs near midfield on its ensuing possession and Theodore opened the fourth quarter with a 9-yard run by Rogers. The Bobcats then converted a two-point try to give Theodore a 27-21 lead with 11:53 left.

After the Bobcat interception return for a score, Theodore failed to convert a two-point try to keep the score 33-21. On the next Enterprise drive, The Wildcats drove right back down the field and Hayes found Smith for an 18-yard touchdown pass with 4:12 remaining. The PAT cut Theodore’s lead to 33-28.

The Wildcats then attempted an onside kick but Theodore covered the ball up near midfield. After Theodore got a quick first down, the Wildcat defense stood up and forced the Bobcats backwards. Then, Theodore went for the knockout shot.

Facing a third-and-12, Theodore motioned receiver Brayden Jenkins – who lined up in the backfield – out to the slot and was matched up with a linebacker. Quarterback Hirtreiter then threw a 26-yard touchdown pass that effectively ended the game. The PAT gave Theodore a 40-28 lead.

Smith made an eye-popping 45-yard catch, in which he had a leaping grab over two defenders, on Enterprise’s next drive but a pair of penalties spelled doom on the drive and ultimately Enterprise turned the ball over on downs. Theodore ran the clock out on its next drive.

Darlington said he felt that getting that first playoff win with the Wildcats would have been big for the program.

“Winning that game would have been a big step for our program and we very much could have won the game, which is frustrating,” Darlington said. “We won more region games this year and won more regular season games, so that is an improvement, but all that got was the same place; fourth in the region and out of the playoffs in the first round. That’s the thing that’s really frustrating.”

Enterprise totaled 491 yards of offense and Theodore managed 452 yards.

Hayes led Enterprise with 93 yards rushing on 15 carries, while also completing 8-of-17 passes for 220 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. McCray rushed for 60 yards and a touchdown, while also catching two passes for 27 yards. Mykel Johnson rushed for 108 yards.

After having a career day against Navarre the previous week, Smith did it again with five catches for 171 yards and three touchdowns.

Theodore was led by Rogers with 164 yards and two touchdowns rushing, while Richardson had 135 yards and two touchdowns. Hirtreiter completed 7-of-13 passes for 96 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions.