JOURNAL STAFF
Captain Shreve quarterback Brodie Savage got his first start of the season and provided a spark the Gators needed in a 34-20 defeat of Class 3A No. 6 Union Parish Friday night at Independence Stadium.
Savage passed for 234 yards and three touchdowns and led his team to two fourth-quarter scores after the visiting Farmers had tied the game 20-20.
“I can’t say enough about Brodie Savage and how he led the offense in his first start,” said Shreve head coach Adam Kirby on the Tim Fletcher Friday Football Frenzy Show on 710 KEEL. “He was very poised and distributed the ball very well and our receivers made great plays and (Jamarlon) Otis did what Otis does.”
Jordan Wiggins caught eight passes for 135 yards and both fourth quarter scores. Otis led the rushing attack with 94 yards on 16 carries and two scores.
The Gators (2-1) took a 20-6 first half lead when Savage hit Keaton Flowers for a 37-yard score and Otis scored on runs of 5 and 1 yards.
The Farmers (1-2) got a score just before halftime to trail 20-14. Jy’marion Island (33 carries, 210 yards) capped a 16-play drive to score from the 2 on the second play of the fourth quarter to tie the game 20-20.
Shreve answered with a Wiggins 24-yard kickoff return to the Gator 39 and finished off 4-play drive with a 32-yard touchdown reception.
“We go down and score to make it 27-20 and our defense came back with a huge stop and we put the game away with another good pass to Jordan Wiggins,” said Kirby.
The Gators got good field position after forcing the punt. Otis started the drive with an 18-yard run and Wiggins finished it with a diving, finger-tip catch for a 38-yard score.
WESTGATE 34, EVANGEL 12: At Westgate, a delayed kickoff and slow start by both teams ended with the No. 5 ranked Tigers pulling away in the fourth quarter for the non-district win.
Trailing 6-0 at the half the 10th-ranked Eagles got their first score when Tyreek Robinson returned a kickoff 95 yards after Westgate had taken a 14-0 lead early in the third quarter.
Evangel’s offense began to click and a Damari Drake 10-yard touchdown run pulled the Eagles to within 14-12. The 2-point conversion pass was batted down by Westgate to keep the 2-point lead.
That was as close as the Eagles could manage as miscues hurt and the Tigers’ Tavias Gordon came up with some big runs to salt the game away.
Westgate scored to start the fourth quarter when Evangel snapped the ball over the punter’s head and a Tiger scooped it up and scored. Gordon then took off on a 65-yard scoring dash.
Evangel falls to 1-2 after the loss and will host Bossier next.
EAST IBERVILLE 52, MAGNOLIA 8: At Magnolia, the Mariners dropped their home opener in a battle of winless teams. They will open District 1-1A with a trip to Homer next Friday.
