ANDRE BURL / L’Observateur / November 15, 1999

LUTCHER – Here we go again, it’s that time of the year when the best of the best meet on the field of battle for the right to be called champions.

And once again the Lutcher Bulldogs found themselves in the thick of the challenge, defeating Buckeye, 35-21, Friday night in the Class 3A bi- district playoffs.

The Lutcher Bulldogs improved to 9-2 and advanced to the regional playoffs against Teurlings while Buckeye finished at 7-4.

After the Bullodgs held Buckeye on its opening possession and took over at their 45, Thomas Ricks went to thr air with a beautiful 40-yard bomb to the Chris Johnson down to the Panthers 7-yard line.

From there with 8:55 elapsed, Jerron Wishom put Lutcher in the end zone on an end-around, but a penality nulified the play.

With second-and-goal, Ricks called a reverse to Chris Johnson’ who came around the left side and plowed his way into the end zone for the score.

Lutcher again took control of the ball at their 39 with 5:39 left and after three running plays, the ball now was sitting at the 34 of the Panthers. Onfirst down, Wishom got the call and scooted around the right side for a touchdown. The extra point was missed, leaving the score at 13-0 Lat the4:40 mark.

The quarter ended with the Panthers recovering a fumble and seting up at the Bulldog 33. The Panthers drove to the Lutcher 7 but Bernard Rileystepped in front of a Brandon Willis pass and the Panthers’ threat was gone.

Ricks would score the next touchdown ona run, giving the Bulldogs a 20-0 lead with 8:26 left in the half.

Lutcher again in great field position at their 44-yard line. Ricks let oneflybut had it intercepted by Chad Wills at the 28 Wills took it to the Lutcher 20 where the ball was stripped from behind. But an alert KadeStrong scoop the ball up in a dead run and took it in for a score at the 3:03 mark. The extra point failed, leaving the score at 20-6. The third quather started like gang busters with Ricks gooing deep to Johnson. Ricks also had a steller night, passing for 235 yards and a coupleof score. Johnson coasted into the end zone after beating the secondarygiving, Lutcher a commanding 27-6 lead with eight minutes left in the third.

Lutcher’s defense was getting harder and harder to move the ball against.

The Panther’s Brandon Willis was able to get the ball into field goal range but the ball fell short and Lutcher took over at the 20. After moving theball to the 40, Ricks again uncorked a bullet to Chris Johnson for a touchdown.

In the fourth quarter, the Panthers manage two more scores by Chad Willis and Brandon Willis to make the score 35-21.

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