By RYAN ARENA

L’Observateur

LUTCHER — Fans that wanted to see an encore of Lutcher’s track meet of a win last season over Warren Easton weren’t disappointed.

Just as it went a year ago, Lutcher and Warren Easton traded blows as if in, as Bulldogs coach Tim Detillier often likes to remark, a heavyweight fight. But just like the 2009 clash between the teams, Lutcher was able to maintain the torrid pace just a little bit longer to come away with a 47-26 win at home.

Lutcher (3-1) defeated Warren Easton 69-37 a year ago.

Cornell Stewart led the way for Warren Easton, rushing for 211 yards and three touchdowns.

Bulldogs junior tailback Daniel Taylor entered the game needing only 20 yards to set the school’s all-time rushing record. He did it and then some on his first carry of the night, jaunting 69 yards for a score. He’d finish with 128 yards on nine carries.

Warren Easton (2-2) struck first on quarterback Chris Gooden’s 19-yard quarterback draw up the middle, making it 7-0 with 7:00 left in the first quarter.

Lutcher answered back via the arm of Ruston Matherne, who found Trevor Englade and Jarvis Landry for scores on successive drives to put LHS ahead 13-7.

The teams traded scores back and forth in the second quarter. Taylor’s 69-yard scoring run was sandwiched between touchdown runs by Stewart of 22 and five yards.

Austin Brack and Landry connected with 4:25 left in the first half on a spectacular play 52-yard touchdown pass that gave LHS a 27-20 halftime advantage. Landry tipped the ball to himself on a fly route and separated from his defender before scoring.

Landry gave Lutcher a two score lead in the third quarter, scoring from 28 yards away on an option play with 9:56 left in the third.

Then, amazingly, the scoring calmed down. Each defense kept the other from crossing the goalline until the fourth quarter—then the track meet resumed.

Stewart wasn’t done, and neither was Warren Easton. He ripped through the Bulldogs defense for a 47-yard score with 11:05 left in the game.

But as quickly as its hope was restored, Warren Easton was repelled when DiJohn Payne broke loose on the ensuing kickoff and went 81-yards for a touchdown to the delight of the LHS faithful.

Lutcher’s Anthony Milazzo intercepted Gooden on the first play of Warren Easton’s next drive. Brack’s 1-yard touchdown run — on a drive that the Bulldogs survived a penalty negated 50-yard scoring run by Taylor – essentially sealed the game.

Seven Lutcher runners combined for 261 rushing yards. Landry finished with three receptions for 80 yards and two scores.