By John Glover

The Daily News

The Bowling Green Buccaneers won their District 5AAA opener against the Central Private Rebels on Friday night, by a score of 18-0.

The Buccaneers went into the game, which was also their homecoming game, off a win against Amite School Center last week and had a 1-2 season record. The Rebels had a 2-0 season record, with some games canceled due to the recent flooding. Bowling Green had also won last year’s contest against Central Private.

“I can’t argue with a shutout,” Bowling Green coach David Currier said. “It really was a win on turnovers. We won the turnover contest.”

Currier’s team had three interceptions and recovered five fumbles.

Running back Cameron Cowart had a strong offensive showing, with two of the three touchdowns of the game.

At the top of the second quarter, Cameron Bell threw Cowart a pass from the Rebels’ 19-yard-line. Cowart caught it at the 9, and ran the rest of the way for the touchdown which put the Buccaneers on the board. The extra point fell short.

The score remained unchanged until a minute into the fourth quarter, when Cowart took a handoff from Bell at the Rebels’ 1-yard-line and powered through the defense. Bell attempted the two-point conversation with a pass to Sammy Graves, but the pass was high.

Cowart also had a strong defensive showing Friday night. Halfway through the first quarter, he intercepted a pass by Rebel quarterback Cade Sanchez intended for Cole Averette. Cowart also recovered two fumbles made by the Rebels.

The Buccaneers’ defense had a strong showing in addition to the recoveries. The defense forced the Rebels to end six separate drives in punts. The Buccaneers forced a turnover on downs four times. On five drives by the Rebels, the Buccaneers held them to a single set of downs.

The third touchdown of the game as well as the third interception made by the Buccaneers came at the bottom of the fourth quarter with 3:00 left on the clock. Sanchez threw from their own 37-yard-line to Averette at the 49. Bowling Green’s Kenny Robertson stepped in and made the pick, running it back for 49 yards and the final touchdown of the game. Bell again attempted the two-point conversation but he was stopped.

The Buccaneers now go on to play Centerville next week.

“Centerville’s a big game,” Currier said. “We got some work to do on our offense. But 18-0, really can’t say more than that.”