After dropping their first three games this season, the Blackcats football team has won six of seven, and heads into the state playoffs on a roll.

The Cats needed a victory of their own, and one by Potosi against Central, Thursday night to ensure a spot in the Class 3 State Playoffs. There  were other scenarios, which would have gotten the Cats a playoff spot, but those two victories provided the least confusing scenario.

Potosi did its part, breaking a scoreless halftime tie, and defeating the Rebels, 20-6. The  result came before the FHS-Ste. Gen. contest reached the fourth quarter. The Cats meanwhile held up their end of the bargain, with a convincing 43-22 victory under soggy, windy, and finally, rainy conditions, Thursday, here.

Rain all day Thursday created a quagmire on the sidelines, and in the middle fo the field, Thursday night. A strong, gusting wind knocked passes and punts for any team trying to (east to west) against it.

The Cats got the ball first, and began their ground game dominance after an opening play pass. Quarterback A.P. Lewandowski hit  Coley Gray for a nine-yard gain on the first play of the game. It was the last pass completion of the evening for the Cats, who racked up 336 yards on the ground. The Cats got a first down at the Dragons 36, and Jacob Farmer got the call. He went around the right end and cruised into the end zone. Ryan Gifford’s PAT made it 7-0 with 10:28 left in the first period.

The Dragons scored on their next possession, as running back Tim Lurk capped a 73-yard drive with a score. The 2-point attempt was stopped by the Cats defense and it was 7-6 with 7:24 to go in the first.

The Cats marched down the field and deep into Ste. Gen. territory, before being stopped at the 11 yard line on downs.

The Dragons then went 89 yards on ten plays, and  Dragons Quarterback Brendand Weiler threw a touchdown pass. Lurk scored the conversion to make it 14-7 Ste. Genevieve with 11:52 to go in the half.

The Dragons lead lasted 13 seconds. That is how long it took Luke Cureton to return the ensuing kickoff. He went 79 yards for the score. The PAT made it 14-14 with 11:39 to play in the half.

Ste. Genevieve regained the lead in a little over three minutes, as a big kick return led to a five play drive capped by a Weiler pass to his favorite target Brock Meyer for a score. Lurk punched in the conversin to make it 22-14 with 9:34 to play in the half.

The rapid scoring continued, as the Cats took over on their 35. Lewandowski ran for nine yards, and Farmer picked up six to midfield. From there, Farmer went around the left side for a 50-yard score. He added the 2-point conversion to make it 22-22 with 9:01 to play in the half. In all, the two teams scored 31 points, as just two minutes, 51 seconds came off the play clock.

The scoring slowed later in the second quarter, as the Dragons turned the ball over on a fumble, and the Cats had to punt. Ste. Genevieve was slowed again on its next drive and forced to punt from its own 20. A bad snap gave the Cats the ball at the two-yard line. Lewandowski kept the ball himself and went up the middle for the score. The PAT made it 29-22 with 2:05 to go in the half.

The Cats held onto the lead into the intermission.

The Dragons got the ball to start the third quarter, and they stalled and were forced to punt.  The Cats did the same on their first drive of the third quarter. Then, both teams got stopped on fourth down. Ste. Genevieve was forced to punt again, as the third quarter wore down. The Cats took over on their 37, and Farmer picked up eight yards on first down. On the next play, Coley Gray went right up the middle, broke free, and scored. The PAT made it 36-22 with 50 seconds to play in the third quarter.

The Dragons looked to have to run two more plays against the strong wind, before getting the wind at their back for the fourth quarter. However, a penalty, and an incomplete pass, coupled with two strategic timeouts by Cats Coach Shannon Henson forced the Dragons to punt into the wind, and gave the Cats good field position as the fourth quarter began.

With the fourth quarter, came a steady rain, as well. Fighting through the rain, as the Cats sustained a four and half minute drive, culminating in a 14-yard touchdown run by Farmer with 7:25 to go in the game.

The Cats defense stifled the Dragons the rest of the way, and Fredericktown won 43-22.

Farmer led the Cats rushing attack with 209 yards on 22 carries. Coley Gray ran 11 times for 100 yards. On defense, Cureton had eight tackles and five assists. Dylan Ellis had six tackles and five assists. Justin Menteer had four and seven, and recovered a fumble.

The Cats play tonight         (November 4) at New Madrid. The winner of this game will play the Dexter at Potosi winner, November9.