SCIOTOVILLE - The defense played Houdini and disappeared.

After playing solid defense all season, the Green Bobcats allowed 367 rushing yards in a 28-7 loss to the Portsmouth East Tartans Friday in a Southern Ohio Conference game.

&#8221We stopped them their first series and even lost yards. But after that, our defense was non-existent,“ Green coach Kevin Sheridan said.

&#8221Our offense moved the ball well at times, but we couldn't stop East. They're a big-play team and they made some big plays.“

Making most of the plays were running back Arthur Henderson and quarterback Brent Downing.

Henderson ran 23 times for 260 yards and three touchdowns. Downing had 86 yards on 11 carries.

East drove the ball for a score on its second series capped by Henderson's 5-yard scoring run. He also ran for the conversion and it was 8-0.

The Bobcats fumbled the ball way on their next series at the 15-yard line and Henderson scored on a 6-yard run to make it 14-0.

Downing extended the lead to 20-0 at the half on a 49-yard keeper by Downing.

&#8221We didn't play well defensively. Our mental approach was not there. We came out flat for whatever reason. It was very uncharacteristic of this group,“ Sheridan said.

The Tartans (4-4, 3-1) took a 28-0 lead on a 30-yard run by Henderson to begin the second half.

Green (4-4, 1-3) got on the scoreboard with 1:45 left in the third quarter. Castro kicked the extra point.

Castro ran 23 times for 109 yards.

Green0070=7

East14680=28

First Quarter

PE – Arthur Henderson 5 run (Henderson run) 6:09

PE – Arthur Henderson 6 run (pass failed) 1:09

Second Quarter

PE – Brent Downing 49 run (run failed) 3:02

Third Quarter

PE – Arthur Henderson 30 run (Brent Downing run) 9:17

Gr – Mark Castro 2 run (Mark Castro kick) 1:45

-----

GrPE

First downs1013

Rushes-yards39-17043-367

Passing yards80

Total yards178367

Cmp-Att-Int1-4-10-3-0

Fumbles-lost4-11-1

Punts-average5-24.02-34.0

Penalties-yards3-358-50

-----

Individual Leaders

RUSHING – Green: Mark Castro 23-109, Jonathan Butler 1-15, Derek Lewis 4-36, Andy Avery 3-8, Dustin Williams 2-2; East: Arthur Henderson 23-260, Brent Downing 11-86, Brandon Williams 4-14, 21 5-7.

PASSING – Green: Derek Lewis 1-4-1 ; East: Brent Downing 0-3-0.

RECEIVING – Green: Jonathan Butler 1-8; East: None.