It was a slow first half for both the Wildcats of St. James (6-0) and the Lutcher Bulldogs (2-4). The first quarter saw only one scoring drive, with Wildcat’s kicker Alec Mahler hitting a 3-point try midway through the first quarter to put St. James up 3-0. Lutcher’s offense got things rolling with a series of long runs from RB Rasuan Storks and QB Mekhi Patterson getting the Bulldogs into the redzone early in the second quarter. Lutcher’s momentum would then be halted by a series of weather delays lasting over an hour long. Finally out of the delay, Lutcher’s offense stumbled a bit, but ultimately would fine the endzone with Patterson scrambling for a Bulldog touchdown after failing to find any open receivers downfield. Lutcher would miss the PAT, resulting in a 6-3 lead for the Bulldogs.
Wildcat QB Shamar Smith and RB Sean Lebeouf followed Lutcher’s score with a fierce ground and pound attack from the duo. Lebeouf burst through the Bulldog front 7 for huge 15 yard gain, but a hard hit jarred the bar loose, with Lutcher recovering. The Wildcat defense tightened following the fumble, forcing a Lutcher 3-and-out and receiving the punt in great field position at their own 45 yard line.
A holding call forced St. James into a 1st and 21, but the Wildcat offense never faltered and picked up the 1st through hard running by both Lebeouf and Smith, along with a 19 yard reception by WR Tyshon Williams. Shamar Smith then used his great running ability on a Qb keeper to pick up 12 yards and another Wildcat first down inside the redzone. Following Smith’s run, Lebeouf took the handoff, getting the edge on the Bulldog defense, for a 20 yard scoring run. Lebeouf’s score effectively put St. James up 10-6 over Lutcher.
Again, the Wildcat defense forced another 3-and-out, as Lutcher’s offense failed to find much success following Patterson’s touchdown run early in the second. A bad punt would award St. James excellent field position around midfield.
The Bulldog defense forced the Wildcat’s into a 3rd and long scenario following Lutcher’s punt and came up huge interception with an attempted middle screen by Shamar Smith. Lutcher’s Daequan Bowser read the play beautifully, intercepting Smith’s pass and returning it all the way down into enemy territory at the St. James 22 yard line.
Following the interception, Lutcher’s Storks took a handoff and burst his way all the way down inside the 5 yard line as the Bulldogs threatened to take a late second quarter lead. Patterson of Lutcher would then take the keeper, putting the Bulldog’s up 13-10 as the half came to a close.
Unfortunately for the Bulldogs, Patterson’s late first half score would be Lutcher’s last. St. James would surge on offense in the second half, outscoring Lutcher 24-0, and giving the Wildcats a 34-13 victory against their in-parish rivals.
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