Wildcats close regular season with road loss to Navarre

Not much went right for the Enterprise Wildcats (7-3) as they dropped the 2020 regular season finale to the Navarre (Fla.) Raiders (5-0) on the road by a score of 42-28 Friday, Oct. 30.

Coming off a big upset over Auburn the prior week, the Wildcats struggled to get going on offense for much of the game and struggled to slow down Navarre’s running game.

Things started off well enough for Enterprise as the Wildcats marched right down the field on a 7-play, 67-yard drive to open the game with junior quarterback Quentin Hayes tossing a 22-yard touchdown pass to senior athlete Josh McCray with 8:44 to go in the opening period putting Enterprise ahead 7-0 early.

Navarre wasted no time responding, however, and returned the ensuing kickoff 54 yards, with only kicker Matt Sheahan saving the touchdown. Navarre running back Jaden Rivera tied the game up on a 1-yard touchdown run with 5:39 left in the period.

Enterprise again drove into Navarre territory but turned the ball over on downs. The Wildcat defense managed to force a rare three-and-out on the night on Navarre’s next drive but Enterprise’s offense also went three-and-out as the second quarter began.

The Raider offense faced a third-and-21 from its own 39 on the ensuing possession but quarterback Zach Marquis found receiver AJ Arno on a 61-yard scoring strike to put Navarre ahead of Enterprise for the first time 14-7 with 9:46 left in the half. Navarre would not look back.

Navarre intercepted a Hayes pass in Raider territory and returned it down to the Enterprise 32 with McCray saving the touchdown. The Raiders expanded their lead to 21-7 on an 8-yard run by Rivera with 5:16 left in the half.

Another Enterprise three-and-out led to another punt, which Sheahan booted inside the Navarre 15-yard line. Just two plays later Enterprise linebacker Tanner Rogers covered up a Navarre fumble, giving the Wildcats new life.

On third-and-long, Hayes avoided Raider pressure and dumped the ball off to McCray, who managed to snag the ball with one hand and then race seven yards for another touchdown to cut Navarre’s lead to 21-14 with 48 seconds left in the half.

Navarre returned the ensuing kickoff 40 yards and again Sheahan saved what likely would have been a touchdown. Navarre then drove inside the Enterprise 20-yard line only for safety Jaylen Webster to make a leaping interception in the end zone. Navarre took its 21-14 lead into halftime.

The Wildcats forced a Raider punt to open the second half and then drove into Raider territory before turning the ball over on downs again. The Raiders made Enterprise pay when Rivera scored on a 19-yard touchdown run with 3:06 remaining in the period to extend the lead to 27-14 after Webster blocked the PAT.

The two sides exchanged punts heading into the fourth quarter and then Hayes scrambled and found receiver Jared Smith, who outraced the entire Raider defense on his way to a 71-yard touchdown catch in a play that seemed to shift the momentum. Enterprise trailed Navarre 27-21 with 10:53 left in the game.

Navarre had other plans, however, and capped off a 10-play scoring drive with a 2-yard run from running back Bailey Huston with 6:53 left. The Raiders then converted a 2-point try to extend the lead to 35-21.

Enterprise – now forced to move into unfamiliar territory having to pass on nearly every play – turned the ball over on downs near midfield. Navarre then stuck a dagger into the Wildcats with a 13-yard scoring run from Marquis with 2:24 remaining to extend the lead to 42-21 over Enterprise.

Hayes again found a wide-open Smith for a 46-yard touchdown pass on the next Wildcat possession to cut the lead to 42-28 with 1:18 left.

The Wildcats then made things interesting as they recovered an onside kick at the Navarre 40-yard line, but the Raiders forced a turnover on downs and ran out the clock to secure the win.

The Wildcat defense gave up 340 yards to the Raiders – with 235 yards coming on the ground – and 19 first downs, while the Wildcats managed 352 total yards. The usually dominant Wildcat running game rushed for a season-low 168 yards against Navarre.

The big difference in the game came on the “money downs” – third and fourth down – as Navarre converted 11-of-18 third downs and Enterprise converted just 7-of-17 third downs and 1-of-5 fourth downs.

Hayes led the Wildcats completing 13-of-25 pass attempts for 184 yards, four touchdowns and one interception along with 39 yards rushing. Hayes’ four touchdown passes gives him 17 passing touchdowns on the season, which breaks the Enterprise single-season record formerly held by current Wildcat assistant coach Clark Quisenberry.

McCray rushes for 72 yards on eight carries along with catches four passes for 26 yards and two touchdowns. He also returned six kickoffs for 145 yards giving the senior 243 all-purpose yards.

Smith had a career night with seven catches for 155 yards and two touchdowns, as well. Mykel Johnson rushed for 32 yards on eight carries.

Navarre was led by Rivera with 147 yards and two touchdowns on 25 carries, while Marquis completed 7-of-18 pass attempts for 105 yards, one touchdown and one interception. He also rushed for 27 yards and another score.

While the Wildcats’ regular season may have come to a frustrating finish, next week will be the beginning of the playoff season as Enterprise travels to Theodore for the opening round of the Class 7A Playoffs on Nov. 6.