LC Sports Information – Brad Welborn
In their first road trip of the Justin Charles era, the Louisiana College football team faced off with the number eight ranked Hardin-Simmons Cowboys at Shelton Stadium in Abilene, Texas. After a closely contested first quarter, the Cowboys were able to convert three consecutive drives in the second quarter into touchdowns and rolled to a 55-10 victory over the Wildcats. LC falls to 1-1 (0-1) on the season while HSU improves to 2-0 (1-0) this year.
The defenses controlled play through the first 10 plus minutes of the game, with neither team providing any significant scoring threat. The Wildcats got closest to the opponents goal line, getting the ball to the HSU 31 yard line, until the offense of the Cowboys was able to hit a big play with less than a minute left in the opening quarter. A 76-yard touchdown pass put the home team on top 7-0 at the end of the first, stunning the Wildcats in the process.
The quarter ended with an LC interception, that put the ball at the Wildcat 23 yard line to start the explosive HSU second quarter. They converted the turnover into another touchdown on a 17-yard pass less than two minutes into the quarter, to take a two score lead. The Wildcat defense stood tall on the next two drives, including Orel Ledet, Jr. picking off a Landry Turner pass, but LC was unable to turn it into any points, punting four plays later.
After the Wildcat punt following the turnover, the Cowboys scored on three straight possessions, all on passes over 10-yards in length, to put the home team ahead 34-0 at the end of the first half. The Cowboys racked up over 350 yards of offense in the first half and scored five touchdowns compared just 119 yards for the Wildcats.
The Cowboy offense continued to roll in the second half as they had touchdown drives of 57-yards, and two separate 83-yard scoring drives to secure their second win of the season. The Wildcats scored their only points of the game in the fourth quarter. A 13-play, 72-yard drive ended at the HSU 11 yard line and with a field goal off the right foot of junior Curtis Sebren.
The lone touchdown drive of the game for the Wildcat came two possessions later as freshman Wayne Griffin engineered another lengthy effort for the Cats. This time a 15-play, 78-yard drive ended with a 29-yard touchdown pass to senior Riley DiMaggio, his first touchdown catch of the young season.
The Wildcats finished with 299 total yards of offense, 113 of it on the ground and 186 through the air. Even though LC held the advantage in time of possession in the game, they were only 8-for-24 on third down attempts while HSU went 5-for-9 on the day.
“When you play a good team you have to be able to execute,” Coach Charles said. “We were able to do that for most of the first quarter but the second quarter we weren’t, and against a good team like Hardin-Simmons, they’re going to make you pay.”
Freshman Wayne Griffin finished 11-for-28 passing for 102 yards, with a touchdown and two interceptions. Le’Vonte Owens led the Wildcats on the ground with 60 yards on nine carries, and Leondre James led the Wildcat receivers with nine catches for 77 yards, DiMaggio scored the only touchdown for LC in the game, adding three other receptions for 38 yards.
LC returns to Wildcat Stadium for two straight home games starting with next weeks contest against Southwestern University. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 pm Saturday afternoon. Stay connected with Louisiana College football by following them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram and by visiting lcwildcats.net.
