By RYAN ARENA

L’Observateur

Gavin Webster passed for four touchdowns and Daniel Taylor scored three as Lutcher trounced defending Class 4A state champion Belle Chasse, 41-12, at Cardinal Stadium on Friday night.

Lutcher (7-0, 2-0) led 7-6 after a quarter, but turned its offense loose in the second, scoring 27 points to blow the game open.

On a wet field – as was the case throughout the state – and dealing with a good bit of wind, it took a little bit of time for his offense to adjust, said LHS coach Tim Detillier.

“Gavin was off on a couple of passes and he came to the sideline,” Detillier said. “He told me, ‘Okay, coach, that’s the last one for the night.’ I think it was just a case of good athletes making adjustments. And then we got rolling.”

Despite the slow start, LHS rolled up 407 yards of offense. On the other hand, Belle Chasse (2-5, 0-2) could get little going. The Cardinals gained only 107 yards.

Detillier noted that ever since Lutcher’s shootout win over Warren Easton late in predistrict play, his defense has stepped up its game.

“I know how disappointed our defensive players and coaches were after that. They’ve been on a mission ever since. (Belle Chasse receiver) James Wright is one of the state’s top players and (Bulldogs cornerback) Todd Washington basically shut him down. Todd had a tremendous game.”

Lutcher got on the board first on Daniel Taylor’s 46-yard touchdown run with 9:33 left in the first quarter.

Belle Chasse answered late in the period on a short touchdown run by Brett Green, but Lutcher immediately struck back early in the second. Webster’s 32-yard scoring pass to Taylor made it 14-6 46 seconds into the second quarter.

A little over two minutes later, Taylor got loose for a 37-yard touchdown run.

Taylor finished with 136 total yards on 14 touches.

“Daniel has really stepped it up in the past few games,” said Detillier. “He’s been bringing it at practice, and I’ve been using him as an example. I’m old school – you play as you practice. It seems to be contagious. Last week we had our best week of practice.”

With 4:30 left in the half, Webster hit Trevor Englade for a 22-yard touchdown to make it 27-6.

Then Lutcher continued a habit that’s almost become a tradition this season – the Bulldogs scored right before the half.

This time it was Webster to Jarvis Landry from 26 yards away.

That touchdown came as the result of a 90-yard drive that began with just 1:26 left in the half.

“It may not have been the most crucial score, but those are deflating to the other team,” said Detillier.

Webster added a third quarter scoring pass to Jeffrey Deslatte.

Webster finished with 247 yards and 17 completions on 23 pass attempts.

Landry hauled in eight passes for 130 yards. Derick Matherne had nine tackles and a sack.

After two straight road win to open district, Detillier says he just wants to see the roll continue.

“No disrespect to anyone we will play coming up,” he said, “but I’m talking to our team more about our own play than any opponents. I’m just excited about what I’m seeing.”