By SCOTT ANDERSON, Journal Sports
Class 4A’s top-ranked team, Westgate, jumped out to an early first-quarter lead and then overcame more of its mistakes to defeat Evangel, 37-21, Friday night at Bossier High School Memorial Stadium.
The Tigers’ offense struck first as quarterback Jaboree Antoine hit wide receiver Dedrick Latulas for a 67-yard touchdown pass.
A bad snap sailed over Evangel punter Kaigen Kent’s head, and Westgate’s Dy’traveous Lively recovered the ball in the end zone. A two-point conversion put the Tigers ahead, 15-0, in the first quarter.
After the tough start, Evangel bounced back strongly in the second period. The Eagles scored on an 11-yard run from DeShawn Jackson and a 19-yard pass from quarterback Peyton Fulghum to his brother, Parker Fulfghum. But a missed extra point left the score 15-13.
As the first half was winding down, it looked as if the Eagles would keep it close. But the Tigers converted a busted play for a 68-yard touchdown as Amaaz Eugene scrambled from a wildcat formation and hit Latulus for the score.
“We didn’t make tackles on that play,” Evangel head coach Denny Duron said.
Westgate took a 22-13 lead into halftime, and wasted no time extending it in the third quarter. Eugene hit Latulas again for a 63-yard touchdown 15 seconds into the quarter.
Tavius Gordon added a 2-yard touchdown run for Westgate to stretch the lead.
But Evangel’s Jackson returned an interception 70 yards for a touchdown, and the momentum shifted briefly back to the Eagles.
The Eagles recovered an onside kick. But a sack on third-and-12 forced a punt.
Miscues, including four passes picked off, kept Evangel (1-2) from sustaining any momentum the entire game. Mistakes also kept Westgate (3-0) from putting Evangel away until the fourth quarter.
“We played as bad as we could play,” Westgate head coach Ryan Antoine said. “Turnovers on top of turnovers. We had tons of chances to put the game away, and found ways to give them an opportunity to get back in the game.”
Duron said mistakes, including the play at the end of the first half and the high snap that led to Westgate’s first touchdown, spoiled a good effort from his team.
“I feel like if we had those two plays back, this would be a pretty even game,” he said. “They never quit. That’s the thing you always ask. We’re going to get this fixed.”
Contact Scott at scooter.anderson@gmail.com
Westgate 37, Evangel 21
Score by quarters
Westgate | 15 | 7 | 15 | 0 | — 37
Evangel | 0 | 13 | 8 | 0 | — 21
Scoring summary
W— Dedrick Latulas 67 pass from Jaboree Antoine (Jake Thibodeaux kick)
W — Dy’traveous Lively fumble recover in end zone (2-pt conversion good)
ECA — DeShawn Johnson 11 run (Kaigen Kent kick)
ECA — Parker Fulghum 19 pass from Peyton Fulghum (kick failed)
W — Latulas 68 pass from Amaaz Eugene (Thibodeaux kick)
W — Latulas 63 pass from Eugene (2-pt conversion good)
W — Tavias Gordon 2 run (Thibodeaux kick)
ECA — Kody Jackson 70 interception return (2-pt conversion good)
Individual leaders
Rushing: W — Tavias Gordon 9-59; ECA —DeShawn Johnson, 3-8, 1 TD; Kody Jackson 3-10.
Passing: W — Jaboree Antoine 4-6-0, 118 yards; Amaaz Eugene 3-3-0 133 yards. ECA — Peyton Fulghum: 13-26-4, 113 yards.
Receiving: W — Dedrick Latulas 4-202, 3 TDs ECA — Kody Jackson 2-84, 1 TD; Parker Fulghum 5-56.
