MICHAEL KIRAL / L’Observateur / December 6, 1999

IOTA – Dylan Navarre scored from 49 yards out midway through the fourth quarter, and Iota held West St. John at the 6-yard line on the Rams’ finaldrive to preserve the Bulldogs’ 26-20 victory Friday night at Bulldog Stadium.

Iota, 13-1, advances to the Class 2-A state championship game for the first time in its history. The Bulldogs will play Port Barre Friday night in the Superdome.

West St. John finished the season at 10-3.West St. John quarterback Carl Gauthier completed 12 of 24 passes for 143 yards. He scored twice on the ground and threw two interceptions.Brian Lumar caught six passes for 70 yards for the Rams, while Amone Lumar led the Rams’ rushing attack with 66 yards on nine carries.

Navarre carried 12 times for 191 yards and two touchdowns for Iota, while Jason Miller added 127 yards and two touchdowns on 22 rush attempts.

The Bulldogs gained 349 yards on 51 carries, while Kyle Richey threw incomplete on all three passes attempted for the home team.

Trailing 20-18 with 7:27 left in the game, Iota took over at its 40-yard line. Four plays later at the Ram 49, Navarre went up the middle and burstinto the secondary, going untouched for the score.

Miller then went off the right side for the two-point conversion, giving Iota a 26-20 lead with 6:17 left in the game.

West St. John took over at its own 28, where Gauthier avoided the Bulldogrush and found Donriel Louis on the left sidelines for 37 yards. On third-and-five from the Iota 30 Gauthier connected with Jeremy Lumar for 13 yards, moving the team to the Bulldog 17.

An 11-yard carry up the middle by Amone Lumar gave the Rams a first down at the 6, but an illegal procedure call pushed the Rams back to the 11.

After an incomplete pass Gauthier fumbled and recovered the ball at the 14. On third down Gauthier was pressured and threw to the right side ofthe end zone, where his pass was knocked down by Richey. On fourth downGauthier’s pass sailed high, giving the Bulldogs the ball back with 2:45 left.

Iota then ran the clock out, aided by an offsides call against the Rams on fourth-and-two from the 22.

On the first play of scrimmage in the second half, Miller fumbled at the 20 with Brian Lumar recovering for the Rams. The Rams took advantage of theturnover as Gauthier scored from 8 yards out. Gauthier was stopped on thetwo-point conversion, leaving the score at 14-6 in the third quarter.

Iota answered on the ensuing possession, driving 65 yards for the score and aided by a facemask call against the Rams.

A 25-yard run by Navarre set up a two-yard TD run by Miller. ArlandoComminie knocked down a try for two, leaving the score at 14-12 with 7:12 left in the third.

West St. John came back on its next possession as a 14-yard run by AmoneLumar and 20-yard completion to Brian Lumar set up Gauthier’s 8-yard run.

The try for two failed, keeping West St. John’s lead at 20-12 with 4:50remaining in the third quarter.

Navarre pulled the Bulldogs to within two points early in the fourth quarter sweeping around the left side and outrunning the defense down the sidelines for an 82-yard touchdown run. The try for two was stopped,keeping the Rams in the lead 20-18 with 10:52 left in the game.

Iota scored first in the game, taking the lead early in the second quarter.

A 46-yard run by Miller set up a 4-yard run by Miller. Miller’s extra pointtry hit the crossbar, leaving the score at 6-0 with 9:07 left in the second quarter.

West St. John did not take long to answer. Jeremy Lumar took the ensuingkickoff at his 16, went down the left side lines, cut across the field and outran the defenders to complete an 86-yard return.

Gauthier snuck up the middle on the two-point conversion, giving the Rams an 8-6 lead with 8:12 remaining in the half.

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