Southern University Lab School started their season right where they left off last season in the State Championship game. With a 34-16 win over the Liberty Magnet Patriots, they have started their year off 1-0 with their eyes set on much more once again.
On this rainy Thursday night in Mumford Stadium, on the first drive of the game LB Trevoris Norman Jr. made his presence felt as an all-purpose back, cruising into the endzone and putting the first points of the night on the scoreboard.
After a defensive first quarter from both sides following the score, QB Jerry Bottley took matters into his own hands with the team backed up in the red zone and facing a 4th and 15. He dropped back to pass, but as soon as he felt the pressure he pulled it down and took off for the first down and a touchdown. This was his first rushing touchdown of the game, but he was just getting started. Running back Trevoris Norman punched in the 2-point-conversion to put their team up 14-0.
While Liberty Magnet put together drives to get down close to the endzone, they were not able to punch it in during the 2nd quarter. This left them facing a 14-0 deficit entering the locker room at halftime. But they were receiving the ball out of half and this was an opportunity for them to cut it to a one-possession game with ample amount of time left to play. Unfortunately, on their first offensive snap out of the half, a bobbled snap by the QB and a strip fumble forced by LB Isaac Millican dug them into an even bigger hole to climb out of.
After the turnover the offense ran out and immediately capitalized marching down the short field. Bottley decided to pull on a read option down on the 5-yard line and easily walked into the endzone putting them up 20-0.
Kicking the ball off, Liberty Magnet knew that this had to be the drive to score if they wanted to have a chance of winning this game. Their run scheme exploded down the field and FB Collin Stephenson finished the job pushing the pile into the endzone. RB Jeremiah Lutcher got into the endzone on the 2-point conversion and the game was now 20-8, with a fired up Liberty Magnet sideline.
After forcing a 3-and-out, the Patriots got the ball back with a chance to make this a one-possession game in only the 3rd quarter. But the rainy conditions plagued them again with another fumble, giving Southern Lab another chance to put them away going into the fourth.
On the drive’s first play, Bottley scrambled out of the pocket and got tackled down on the sideline after almost 30 yards, but he didn’t get up after the play. He crawled off to the side with the trainers but the game was still going, so the Southern Lab sideline had to get back into the flow of the game while wondering the status of their starting QB. Freshman QB Dexter Ricard trotted out and was set to put this game away not knowing how bad the injury was. But not long after, Bottley was back up on the sideline and jogging around. He checked back into the game and on the first play took it himself into the endzone for the 3rd time of the night. LB Trevoris Norman was in the backfield again on the 2-point conversion and showed off his speed rather than power this time getting to the edge to give his team a comfortable 20-point lead with just under 6 minutes left.
RB Jeremiah Lutcher was explosive all night and showed that once again with a huge run to kick-start the drive and get them all the way down to the 1-yard line. The other half of the dynamic duo Collin Stephenson cleaned it up for the touchdown, with Lutcher getting his well-deserved ticket into the endzone on the 2-point conversion. Unfortunately, their efforts would be too little, a bit too late.
Southern Lab would get the ball back and there was nothing but time standing between them and their first win of the season. The backfield would slowly work their way down the field while also letting the play clock dwindle down before each snap. The offense capped off the night and put an exclamation mark on the win with Bottley scoring his 4th rushing TD of the night.
Southern Lab head coach Darrell Asberry was happy to get the Week One win but he is already looking down the road to the rest of the season. With some notable matchups later in the season such as Denham Springs and Madison Prep, they will need everyone that showed up big for them tonight to bring that same impact to the game all season.
With all these guys having to play both ways, we have to get in shape. Lot of work still needs to be done. This was just a tune-up for us, it’s going to get tough down the road, so we just need to stay healthy.
Southern Lab Head Coach Darrell Asberry
Check out his interview for more of his reflection after the win over Liberty Magnet.
The Liberty Magnet Patriots still have a big season to look forward to with arguably an even more challenging schedule. They look to improve to 1-1 next week against White Castle and smooth things out before they play Lutcher the following week.
Check out my photos taken at the game.
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