The Anson High School Bearcats take the field for their Homecoming game against Marvin Ridge Friday night.

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Bearcats receiver Allen Campbell makes a catch during Friday night's Homecoming game against Marvin Ridge.

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The Bearcats lost a hard-fought Homecoming game against Marvin Ridge Friday night, 24-21.

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Anson High School's Homecoming Court was introduced during halftime of Friday night's game.

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Head Coach Luke Hyatt has a word with receiver Will Smith during Anson's Homecoming game Friday night at Bearcat Stadium.

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The Bearcats lost a heartbreaker of a Homecoming game against Marvin Ridge Friday night, with a final score of 24-21.

The Mavericks scored a touchdown on the first kickoff return of the game, but Anson didn’t let the score of 7-0 phase them. Running back Jekev Robinson immediately got the Bearcats a first down, but Anson’s rhythm was cut short when an incomplete pass led to a Marvin Ridge possession.

With 2:53 left in the first quarter, the Mavericks scored another touchdown, making the score 14-0.

Anson started the second quarter off strong, repeatedly driving for a touchdown and coming up short. Finally, about midway through the second quarter, wide receiver Bunyon Tyson scored the first Bearcat touchdown, bringing the score to 14-6. Manuel Alonso’s kick for the extra point was no good.

After the Bearcats made it onto the scoreboard, the Mavericks powered back with their second kickoff return for a touchdown of the game and scored the extra point, bringing the score to 21-6.

Still, the Bearcats hung tough and fought back from a personal foul against Marvin Ridge that took Terance Dumas out of the game with an ankle injury. Allen Campbell scored the Bearcats’ second touchdown, bringing the score to 21-12. Head Coach Luke Hyatt called for the two-point conversion play, and wide receiver Will Smith made good on the call, bringing the score to 21-14. Marvin Ridge scored a field goal late in the second quarter, making the score 24-14 at the end of the half.

After the traditional introduction of the Homecoming Court during halftime, the Bearcats came out swinging in the second half. The Mavericks’ defense was tough, however, and blocked several of quarterback Rodrick Evans’ passes. Marvin Ridge attempted another field goal toward the end of the third quarter, but it was no good. After several plays that ended at the 2-yard line and inside the 1-yard line, Tyson got the Bearcats back on the board with another touchdown with 8:06 left in the game. Alonso’s kick was good, bringing the score to 24-21.

The Bearcats were unable to capitalize on their final possession of the game. Marvin Ridge intercepted a pass with less than a minute remaining in the game, and sealed the Bearcats’ loss by just three points.

The loss brings Anson to a record of 2-7. They will face Porter Ridge at home next Friday night at 7:30 p.m.