The Wildkittens could easily be 3-1.

Instead, they're 0-4 with back-to-back losses in the final seconds.

Up 20-0 at halftime against Highland, the Kittens appeared to have this one in the bag.

But two personal fouls, an interception and a fumble allowed the Rebels to steal a home win from Trumann in front of a Homecoming crowd with a 24-20 victory Sept. 25 at Wildcats Field.

"We lost another heartbreaker that we should have won," said head coach Nick Richardson. "We have got to learn to finish ballgames. We're just not finishing."

The loss followed another close effort last week against Gosnell when the Kittens were stopped eight inches from the end zone with seconds to go in a 20-14 loss.

Trumann got off to an early 6-0 lead in the first quarter. Quarterback Jimmy Creecy connected with Quinton Buchanan on a 34 yard pass with 3:38 to go. Creecy's pass to Zack Buckner though on the 2 point conversion was no good.

The Wildkittens added to their lead in the second quarter with Creecy finding Taylor McPherson on a 57 yard pass. Creecy then ran it in for the 2 point conversion to make it 14-0 with 7:35 to play in the half.

McPherson would score again on a 2 yard touchdown run with :16 seconds remaining to give the Kittens a 20-0 lead at halftime.

The Kittens came out in the third quarter looking like they would continue to dominate, forcing Highland to turn the ball over on downs, but got called for a personal foul to give the Rebels another shot on offense.

J.J. Moore scored on a 1 yard run to get the Rebels on the board then converted for 2 points on a pass from quarterback Garrett Sublett to Brennen Severn to make it 20-8.

The Wildkittens drove the ball down to the Highland 14 yard line and threatened to score with :14 seconds remaining in the third quarter but the Rebels picked off Creecy's pass and brought it back to the 46 yard line.

"That was the turning point of the game," Richardson said.

Highland scored two plays later on a 29 yard pass from Sublett to Ben Markway with 7:52 to go in the fourth. Sublett ran it in for the 2 point conversion to make it 20-16.

The Kittens got another shot on offense, driving to the 28 yard line but fumbled with :47 seconds to go in the game.

Highland went ahead for good when Sublett connected on a 20 yard pass to Markway with :17 seconds left in the game. Sterling Stowers ran it in for the 2 point conversion to make it 24-20.

Richardson said the team played hard again but got a little overconfident at halftime and let off on a couple of plays.

"We had a couple of personal fouls that cost us and that fumble," Richardson said. "We've just got to take care of the football."

Offensively, Richardson said it was the Kittens best performance of the season.

"This was probably the best night we've had," Richardson. "We're this close to winning."

Creecy finished 12 of 18 passing for 207 yards. Taylor McPherson had 150 yards receiving and 65 yards rushing.

The Kittens take on Osceola this week.

"Osceola is big and fast," Richardson said. "We're going to have to find a way to stop them."

The biggest thing though is to not let the team get discouraged because they are 0-4, he said.

"We've got to stay positive and not quit," Richardson said. "We should be 3-1. But we're not. We've just got to re-group, and some how, some way, get this thing turned around in the right direction."