MICHAEL KIRAL / L’Observateur / October 21, 1998

LUTCHER – Coming off a 34-7 loss to St. James Friday night, things do notget any easier for Lutcher this week as the Bulldogs host district co- leader E.D. White.Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.The loss to St. James ended a five-game winning streak by the Bulldogs.Lutcher, ranked 14th in Class 3A, comes into the game with a 0-1 record in District 10-3A and is 5-2 overall. E.D. White, ranked 13th in the state,defeated Plaquemine, 21-9, Friday and is 2-0 in district play, 6-1 overall.

“We can’t hang our heads,” Lutcher coach Tim Detillier said. “We have gotto bounce back. As far as the district schedule, we got the toughest drawof anybody. We have St. James and E.D. White back-to-back. We have tofight back. We were in this situation last year and we came back.Hopefully, this bunch can bounce back like last year.”Lutcher rallied from a loss to St. James last year to win its final threedistrict games and place second behind the Wildcats.

Lutcher’s ground attack was held in check against the Wildcats as the Bulldogs were held to 52 yards on 21 carries. Damian Ursin led the waywith 56 yards on seven carries. The junior running back had been thesecond-leading rusher in the River Parishes area going into the game and now has 667 yards and eight touchdowns on 96 carries.

Thomas Ricks connected with Kenneth Johnson for a 75-yard score for the Bulldogs’ only points. Ricks finished the evening having completed 9-of-19passes for 156 yards and three interceptions. On the season, he hascompleted 40-of-97 passes for 564 yards and two touchdowns.

The Lutcher defense, which had been allowing 15 points per game, gave up 447 yards to the Wildcats, including 360 yards on the ground.

“St. James is a very good football team,” Detillier said. “I was a littledisappointed in our performance. We are so much better than we showedbut St. James had a little bit to do with that. I take my hat off to them.”Lutcher faces another solid team in E.D. White this week. AgainstPlaquemine, the Cardinals scored all their points in the second quarter behind a couple of big plays. Running back Grant Toups ran for a 46-yardtouchdown and wide receiver Jake Ritchie followed with a 71-yard dash.

Justin Chaisson was the Cardinals’ leading rusher with 63 yards on 21 carries.

But it was the Cardinal defense that dominated, not allowing an offensive score by Plaquemine until the fourth quarter. E.D. White allowed just 181yards in total offense, including 62 on the ground. On the season, theCardinals are allowing less than 10 points per game. That defense returnssix starters from a year ago, led by Scott Bonvillain at defensive end, Casey Rodrigue at defensive tackle and Matt Ory and Toups at linebacker.

On offense, the Cardinals have switched to the Wing-T formation. E.D.White is inexperienced on that side of the ball, returning only Ritchie from a year ago. J.J. Tabor takes over at quarterback and Chaisson, Toups andJonathan Zeringue are newcomers in the backfield.

“E.D. White is a solid team, especially on defense,” Detillier said. “Theyhave changed to the Wing-T and are scoring more points than had in the past.”Detillier said a victory Friday night could put the Bulldogs back in the district hunt and that the key to the game will come down to who makes the least amount of mistakes.

“We are both solid defensively with capable offenses,” Detillier said. “Weare going to feel each other out and wait for the other guy to make the mistakes. In a game like this, one mistake could decide the outcome. Wedon’t want to be the team that makes that first mistake.”Lutcher travels to Donaldsonville next week while E.D. White hosts St.James.

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