Bobcats down Lions 40-24

Corning dealt Manila a severe blow to its state playoff hopes, posting a 40-24 victory over the Lions Friday night in Manila's final home game of the 2014 football season.

The Bobcats took an early 8-0 lead on their first possession, driving 55 yards in 12 plays. Corning reached the end zone when quarterback Austin Scrogin hit Austin Rouse with a 14 yard touchdown pass. Scrogin added a two point conversion pass to Michael Allen.

The Lions answered when Kyle Joyner found Josh McQueen on a play action pass in the right flat for a 10-yard scoring strike with 1:50 to go in the opening quarter. The two point run failed, leaving Corning with an 8-6 lead.

Jake Helton (20) reels in a Kyle Joyner pass Friday night at Lion Field. Corning defeated Manila 40-24 in high school football action.

The Bobcats struck back when Jon Rangel fielded the ensuing kickoff and raced 85 yards down the left sidelines for Corning's second score of the game. Rouse's two point conversion run put the Bobcats on top 16-6 at the 1:33 mark.

The Lions came roaring back in the second quarter to take an 18-16 lead with a pair of Nick Stiles touchdowns. Stiles scored on a 16 yard romp up the middle with 6:57 left in the half to slice the Bobcat lead to 16-12. Manila went ahead on its next possession after Josh South pounced on an Allen fumble at the Corning 37 yard line. A roughing the passer penalty and a Luis Maldonado 16 yard run gave Manila a first and goal at the Corning one. Stiles blasted in for the go ahead touchdown with 3:00 left in the half.

Corning came right back to take the lead for good on its next possession when Cope Robinson sprinted 58 yards to give the Bobcats a 24-18 advantage. Corning wasn't finished, scoring on its last possession of the half, driving 71 yards, capped off by Allen's two yard scoring run as time expired. Allen added the two point conversion for a 32-18 Bobcat lead at the half.

Corning stretched its margin to 40-18 early in the third quarter when Scrogin connected with Robinson on a 29 yard touchdown pass. Gordo Gonzales added the two point conversion for the Bobcats.

Manila refused to quit, scoring on its next possession when Maldonado found a gap and sprinted 66 yards into the end zone. The two point conversion attempt failed, leaving the Lions trailing 40-24.

Neither team could score the rest of the way as the Lions saw their record fall to 2-7 overall and 2-4 in league play.

Manila finished the night with 178 yards of total offense, including 154 on the ground. Maldonado led the Lion rushers with 13 carries for 67 yards and a score. Stiles added 50 yards on 11 carries and two touchdowns. Eric Navarro rushed five times for 16 yards, Aaron Carter had four rushes for 14 yards while Kyle Joyner carried eight times for six yards.

Joyner completed three of nine passes for 24 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Josh McQueen caught two passes for 18 yards and a score while Jake Helton snared one pass for six yards.

Corning piled up 308 yards of total offense, including 166 on the ground and 142 through the air. Scrogin completed 12-16 passes for 146 yards and two scores. Rangel and Rouse led the Bobcats in receiving with four receptions apiece.

Robinson led the Bobcat runners with 70 yards on just four carries. Allen rushed 15 times for 60 yards.

"I was really proud of the effort tonight," said Lion Coach Jerry Castor. "Corning has a really good football team. The kickoff return was a big play for them and the score we gave up right before halftime was critical. But our kids never gave up."

Manila closes the regular season, traveling to Hoxie Thursday night for a 7 p.m. kickoff.