MICHAEL KIRAL / L’Observateur / August 21, 1999

LUTCHER – Lutcher took advantage of early West St. John mistakes toscore three touchdowns with its first team in the teams’ scrimmage Thursday night.

The Rams came back later in the scrimmage to score a touchdown with their first team. West St. John’s second team also scored twice.West St. John’s Carl Gauthier fumbled on the first play of the game whenhe was sacked by Jemelle Cage. Cage recovered the fumble at the West St.John 12-yard line.

The Bulldogs failed to score, however, as Damian Ursin was stopped on fourth down at the 1-yard line. But the Lutcher defense held and theoffense took over the Rams’ 39-yard line after a punt by Brian Lumar.

On third-and-7 from the 36, Thomas Ricks connected with Demond Bell for a first down at the 27. Ricks then found Ursin over the middle with Ursintaking it the rest of the way for the score.

Cage recovered another fumble on the Rams’ next play from scrimmage at the West St. John 30-yard line. Ursin went up the middle for 10 yards onfourth-and-3 from the 18 to keep the drive alive. Three plays later, Ricksfound Jerron Wishom slanting in from the right in the end zone to make it 14-0.

West St. John begin moving the ball two possessions later afterintercepting a Ricks pass at the Rams 47-yard line. An 8-yard pass fromGauthier to Lumar kept the drive alive on fourth-and-two from the 45- yard line.

Gauthier found Lumar for another 8-yard gain and Amone Lumar ran for 5 yards for a first down at the Lutcher 24-yard line. But the Lutcher defensethen stepped up and Gauthier’s pass on fourth down fell incomplete.

Lutcher quickly answered on its next possession. On second-and-1 from the 27, Ricks found Bell behind the defense on the left side. Bell took itthe rest of the way down the left sidelines untouched, increasing the lead to 21-0.

Both teams failed to score on their first team’s final possessions. Rickswas intercepted twice to end two possessions.

With the second teams in, West St. John took over at its 35-yard line.Amone Lumar picked up a first down on a 5-yard run and Devin Herbert found Jeremy Lumar on the left sidelines for a 21-yard gain to the Lutcher 39-yard line.

On second-and-19 from the 33, Herbert scrambled for 20 yards and a first down. Glenn Burrell took it in from the 1 five plays later for the Rams’first score.

West St. John took over its next possession at its 30-yard line. On second-and-11 from the 29, Jeremy Lumar caught a pass on the left side for a 31- yard gain. Lumar would pull in another pass in the left corner of the endzone for the Rams’ second score.

With the first teams back in later in the scrimmage, West St. John tookover at its 30. Gauthier found Jeremy Lumar for 15 yards and Donriel Louisfor 10 to convert after a second-and-23.

On fourth-and-7 from the 45, Gauthier scrambled left for a 25-yard gain to the Lutcher 30. Four plays later, Gauthier converted another fourthdown with a 22-yard toss to Brian Lumar to the 8. Two plays later,Gauthier connected again with Louis in the left side of the end zone for the score.

Both teams would be held on their next possessions. Arlanda Comminieintercepted a Ricks pass on the final play of the game.

Lutcher coach Tim Detillier said he was excited about how his team came out and said his team got a good test.

“That’s why I like scrimmaging West St. John, they always give us goodwork,” Detillier said. “I feel we accomplished what we wanted to for bothsides.”West St. John coach Laury Dupont said that mental mistakes hurt his teambut that the players will learn from them.

“That’s why we scrimmage,” Dupont said.

“The kids played really aggressive and got after people. We converted twofourth down plays (on the last scoring drive) and I’m proud of that. CarlGauthier made some exceptional plays and Ahmad Lumar was all over the field on defense. We made some mental mistakes but we are gettingbetter.”Both teams will compete in the River Parishes Jamboree this week.

Lutcher plays Destrehan in the second game Thursday night at Destrehan.

West St. John takes on Hahnville in the second game Friday night atHahnville. Both games will start 30 minutes after the conclusion of thefirst games.

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