Gators thrash Bobcats

LAKE CHARLES – The LaGrange High Gators took an early lead and were never threatened on their way to a 43-6 win over the Eunice High Bobcats here Friday night.
The Gators improved to 2-4 on the season and to 2-0 in District 4-4A. The Bobcats fell to 3-3 overall and to 1-2 in district play.
LaGrange was nearly unstoppable on offense against a Bobcat defensive unit missing a couple of starters.
The Gators would finish the game with a total yardage of 409 yards - 263 rushing and 236 passing.
The Bobcats did stop the Gators on their initial possession of the game, forcing a punt following the opening kickoff.
Quarterback Alex Richard ran for 17 yards on first down for the Cats. But the next three downs produced just three yards, leading to a Eunice punt.
The Gators took possession at their own 20 and drove 80 yards in 10 plays for a touchdown. Markell Hawthorne, who finished with 122 yards on 10 carries, scored on a 4-yard run. Quarterback Jeremiah West passed to Michael Leday for the two-point conversion with 4:31 left in the first quarter.
Following a quick three-and-out by the Cats, the Gators doubled their lead by driving 66 yards in two plays for a touchdown. Hawthorne did most of the damage with a touchdown run of 61 yards. Leday ran for two points to put the Gators on top by a 16-0 margin.
The Bobcats had their best drive of the game on their next possession. They would move 73 yards in 17 for their lone touchdown of the game.
Key plays of the drive included passes of 14 and 15 yards from Richard to Triston Frye and Travis Godfrey, respectively. Richard scored the touchdown on a determined 7-yard run. The PAT run failed, but the Cats cut the lead to 16-6 with 7:48 left in the half.
The Gators wasted no time in answering back. Taking over at their own 47 following the kickoff, West found Jaylen Myles opened down the sideline for a 53-yard scoring pass. Myles broke a couple of tackles on the play on his way to the end zone. The PAT pass failed, but the Gators led 22-6 with 7:27 left in the half.
The Cats attempted to respond as Richard connected with Godfrey for 19 yards. But a holding call against the Cats on first down put the Cats into too deep a hole and they were forced to punt.
The Gators got the ball at their 29 and proceeded to move down the field to the Eunice 21 in three plays. The touchdown came on the next play as West found Dondel Lewis in the end zone with 3:44 left in the half. Myles ran for the PAT to put the Gators up 30-6.
The Cats had a chance to close the gap late in the half as Richard hooked up with Godfrey for a 75-yard touchdown pass. But an unsportsmanlike penalty against the Cats at midfield negated the touchdown, turning the play into just a 23-yard play. The Cats were unable to recover and the half ended with the Gators up 30-6.
The Cats received the kickoff to start the second half and picked up two first downs before having to punt.
The Gators took possession at their 27 and moved 73 yards in just five plays for a touchdown thanks to another pass by West. The PAT kick failed but the Gators held a 36-6 lead at the 7:05 mark of the third quarter.
The Bobcats were unable to threaten again while the Gators added another touchdown with 6:57 left in the game on a run by James Eaglin. Adam Nunez kicked the PAT to make it 43-6.