The hard times continue for the Highland Home Flying Squadron.

Coach Scott Booth’s Squadron troops fought the Bobcats of R. C. Hatch tooth and nail, but two late 4th quarter touchdowns sealed the Flyboys’ fate as they fell 20-6 at the hands of the Cats.

Trailing 8-6 late in the final stanza, the Squadron drove down to the Bobcat 28-yard line with 2:15 showing on the clock, where they faced a 4th and 7 to keep the drive alive.

But Bobcat defensive end Josh Duncan sacked Squadron QB Tyler McGough for a 9-yard loss to end the Flyboys’ scoring threat at the Cat 37 yard line. It took only one play for the Bobcat offense to kick in as tailback Justavious Martin galloped 63 yards through the Squadron defensive 11 to hit pay dirt.

The PAT run for 2 points failed as R. C. Hatch led 14-6 over the home team.

Down by only 8 points, the Flying Squadron had one last opportunity to tie the game with 1:24 to go in the game, but a Tyler McGough pass missed its mark as Bobcat corner man Jack Johnson picked it off and rambled 52 yards untouched into the Squadron end zone for the score.

As the horn sounded, the R. C. Hatch Bobcats had grabbed their third win of the season and their second in Class 2A, Region 3 play.

For the fourth consecutive week, the start of the game looked bright for the young Squadron as they marched 70 yards in 10 plays to answer a 9-play, 62-yard scoring drive that put the Bobcats up 8-0, as QB Trent Tucker scored from 2 yards out.

The Squadron’s scoring play came with 1:41 left in the opening quarter when QB Tyler McGough hit tailback Cody Peterson in the left corner of the Bobcat end zone for the Highland Home score. The PAT run for 2 points was no good as the quarter came to an end with Highland Home behind 8-6.

In the 2nd quarter, the Highland Home defensive 11 bottled up the Bobcat offensive unit to force a punt from their own 26-yard line.

A great rush up the middle by the Squadron return team forced the ball off the side of the punter’s foot as he got off only a 12- yard kick. Starting at the Hatch 38 yard line, the Flyboys quickly moved the ball down to the Hatch 15 yard line. Facing a 4th and 8 at that point, an errant pass from McGough to tailback Cody Peterson fell harmlessly to the ground with 5:15 left in the 1st half.

Trying to extend their 2-point lead, the Bobcats moved down to the Highland Home 17 yard line and a 1st and 10 with :32 showing on the scoreboard clock. But senior linebacker Drew Rogers blitzed QB Trent Tucker for a 17-yard loss, as the Cat offense was now in a no-huddle mode.

With the ball at the Flyboy 32 yard line, H.H. safety freshman Kasie Kelley made a sure shoestring tackle to bring down the Bobcat receiver as the horn went off to close out the 1st half.

Coach Booth’s Notre Dame box offense took complete control of the game clock as they held the ball 18:10 compared to 5:50 for the visiting Bobcats from Uniontown, Ala.

They also gained 12 first downs to only 2 for the visitors, but the tale-telling sign was the uncanny amount of penalties that were called on the Blue Clad Squadron. Seventy-five yards were marked off, with 65 in the 2nd half.

Highland Home still looks to gain their first win of the year, and that task won’t be easy this week as they take on county foe and 1A powerhouse Brantley Bulldogs of Coach David Lowery.

The kickoff is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. at Clay Jordan Stadium on the campus of H.H.S.