LaGrange stuns No. 9 Bobcats

By John Burson

Sports Writer

The LaGrange High Gators limited the Eunice High Bobcats to just six first downs in claiming a 19-6 district win Friday night at Bobcat Field.

The Gators, 1-5 overall and 1-1 in 4-4A play, totaled 340 yards of offense versus 150 yards for the Bobcats. 

Despite the Gators big edge in offense, the Bobcat defense limited LaGrange to only seven points in the first half. 

That touchdown came with 11:40 left in the first half thanks to a 58-yard drive in four plays. On the third play of the drive, the Gators ran a screen pass from quarterback Quindon Barry to Markell Hawthorne for 41 yards to the Eunice High 3-yard line. On the next play, Tyler Guillory scored. Markell Simien kicked the PAT to put the Gators on top.

The Bobcat offense struggled, making only two first downs in the half. The Cats had less than 50 yards of offense in the opening half.

The Gators added to their lead with 6:01 left in the third quarter as Hawthorne broke loose on a 68-yard touchdown run. Jerwaski Thomas blocked the PAT kick. 

On the ensuing kickoff, the Gators recovered an onside kick at the Eunice 42, but the Bobcats forced a punt. A high snap gave the Cats the football at LaGrange 41.

The Cats picked up a first down on a 13-yard  pass from quarterback Alex Richard to Brennan Ashley. Two plays later, Jake Sonnier ran 14 yards to the 4-yard line. A facemask penalty on the Gators moved the ball to the two and Richard ran in for the score with 3:49 left in the third quarter. Wesley Hebert kicked the PAT to cut the lead to 13-7. 

On the ensuing possession, the Cats forced a Gator punt, but two rushes for no gain, a five-yard penalty put the Cats in a hole from which they couldn’t recover. 

A punt return by Markel Thomas on fourth down set up the final Gator score - a 7-yard run by Hawthorne with 10:05 left in the fourth quarter. The PAT run failed, but the Gators held a 19-7 lead.

The Cats did make into Gator territory on their final two possessions of the game, but were unable to put points on the board.

Bobcat head coach Paul Trosclair felt that his team’s preparation during the week contributed to the defeat.

“We couldn’t execute plays during the week in practice,” he commented. 

“When you play one of the best defenses you’ve faced all season, you can’t make the mistakes we made tonight.”

Coach Trosclair felt that his defense played hard, but was on the field for too long a period. 

Hawthorne led LaGrange in rushing with 28 carries for 150 yards. Barry completed 11 of 19 passes for the Gators. Sonnier had an interception against Barry for the Cats.

Sonnier led the Cats in  rushing with 29 yards on five attempts. Jerwaski Thomas led the Cats with five receptions for 45 yards. Richard completed nine of 15 passes for 83 yards for the Cats.