ERATH — For quarterback Joe Lissard and running back D’Shawn Etienne, it was very important that Catholic High bounce back from last week’s close loss to Teurlings with a strong performance against long-time rival Erath.

Lissard completed 15 of 20 passes for 261 yards and three touchdowns while Etienne rushed for 116 yards and two scores as the Panthers rallied from an early deficit to beat Erath 35-13 Friday in a non-district game.

“We worked real hard all week and really wanted this game,” said Lissard. “We had to bounce back from last week. It was extremely important for us to recover from that loss. And we were definitely motivated to come back and play against Erath, which is a rival game for us.”

Lissard threw touchdown passes of 41 yards to Rhett Gonsoulin, eight yards to Blake Byrom and two yards to Gabe Fuselier. He also threw two interceptions, but one was right before halftime when the Panthers were trying a long pass and the second was late in the fourth quarter when the game was already decided.

Etienne scored on a two-yard touchdown run to give CHS (1-1) the lead in the first quarter and a six-yard run in the fourth quarter.

“Our team is coming together,” said Etienne. “This game was very important. It was a rivalry game and we had to show them what we had. This is our time. We had confidence in each other and we showed it on the field.”

CHS coach Keith Menard also knew that Friday’s game was important, but he didn’t want to put that pressure on the team playing a rival.

“To me it was huge,” said Menard. “I didn’t tell the kids that but it was huge. Just from the standpoint of power points and getting back some morale. We played a good team last week and came up short. We didn’t want to come up short again.”

Menard credited both Catholic High’s offensive line for keeping the pressure off Lissard and opening holes for Etienne. He also credited the defense for shutting down the Bobcats after Erath (1-1) scored on two of  its first three possessions.

Coy Clostio gave the Bobcats an early lead with a 10-yard touchdown run and kept EHS in the game in the second quarter with a 71-yard touchdown run. He finished with 136 yards on 12 carries.

But the problem for Erath was the fact the team couldn’t sustain drives, especially in the second half.

“We can’t outscore anybody. That’s not who we are,” said EHS coach Destin Dieterich. “We have to move the chains and move the clock. But when you give up big plays and miss tackles and fall behind, you have to do different things that you are not accustomed to.

“That’s never a good thing.”

Dieterich added that when Catholic High scored after Erath took the early lead, they took most of the momentum which made an EHS comeback that much harder.

“They made a few changes in the defense that took away what we do,” said Dieterich.

Catholic High starts a six game home stand next week when the Panthers play host to North Vermilion. Erath plays host to Vermilion Catholic.