MICHAEL KIRAL / L’Observateur / September 23, 1998

LUTCHER – Last season, the Lutcher Bulldogs bounced back from a 0-2 start to win seven of their final eight games and advance to the state playoffs.

The Bulldogs are at it again this season, bouncing back from a season- opening loss to East St. John to win their last two games. The Bulldogswill look to make it three in a row this week as they host Port Allen.

Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.Lutcher is coming off a 20-12 victory on the road at Bishop Sullivan, a victory that can be credited to the Bulldogs’ special team. Trailing 13-12in the third quarter, Lutcher’s Andy Tramonte blocked a Bishop Sullivan punt and Jemelle Cage returned it 24 yards to put the Bulldogs ahead for good. Jerron Wishom capped off the scoring with a 14-yard run, his secondtouchdown of the night.

Special teams helped Lutcher overcome a 12-0 deficit in the first half. Onthe first Bishop Sullivan touchdown, Bernard Riley blocked the extra point attempt, and on the second, the Bulldogs stopped a two-point conversion attempt. A high snap on a Bishop Sullivan punt attempt gave the Bulldogsthe ball on the Bishop Sullivan 24-yard line and set up their first score, a 3-yard run by Wishom.

The Lutcher offense, running without its major weapon, running back Damian Ursin, was held to 118 yards, 52 rushing. Ursin had rushed for aClass 3A metro-area high 300 yards in his first two games but was held out due to an injury. The defense allowed 166 rushing yards to BishopSullivan but held it out of the end zone in the final three quarters.

This week, the Bulldogs go against a Port Allen team coming off a 37-16 loss to Clinton. The loss dropped the Pelicans to 1-2 on the season after aloss to Notre Dame and a victory against Ville Platte.

Port Allen returns all but two offensive starters from a 4-6 team a year ago. The Pelicans have a balanced attack behind quarterback Quentin Brownand running back Brandon Williams. Brown passed for 702 yards and eighttouchdowns and added 433 yards on the ground last season. This yearthrough two games, Brown had passed for 117 yards.

Williams, who averaged 8.6 yards per carry last season in rushing foralmost 800 yards, has been Brown’s top receiver this season with four catches for 71 yards through two games.

The defense is inexperienced up front but has four returning starters at linebacker and in the secondary. Brad Trabeaux is the lone returninglineman while Brad Bass and Ray Woods leads the linebacking corps.

Jeremy Mitchell, one of the top players in District 8-3A, leads the backfield along with Jesse Bibbins.

Lutcher has one final tuneup at Assumption next Friday before entering District 10-3A play. Port Allen hosts Cecilia before jumping into District8-3A action.

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