GAME RESULT

LUTCHER – Lutcher tailback Daniel Taylor’s 45-yard touchdown run broke a 21-21 tie and Chase Caldarera’s 54-yard interception return for a touchdown salted away the win as Lutcher got past Hahnville, 34-21, Friday night at the school’s new “Dog Yard” stadium.

Taylor’s touchdown run, his first of the night, came with 2:20 remaining in the game.

But that was enough time for Hahnville to threaten to know things up again. Caldarera responded with the team’s biggest defensive play to date, picking off Tigers’ quarterback Easton Melancon for the score.

Taylor rushed 17 times for 114 yards for Lutcher. LHS quarterback Ruston Matherne completed 5 of 14 pass attempts for 138 yards and three touchdowns. Two of those went to Sully Martin; another went to Dorian Semien.

For Hahnville, Ernest Thompson paced the Tiger run attack with 98 yards and two touchdowns on 10 carries. His 62 yard run in the fourth quarter tied the game with just over eight minutes left. Travis Faucheaux gained 60 yards on 21 attempts. Overall Hahnville ran for 210 yards and held possession for over 28 minutes of game time – controlling the clock, and by extension keeping Lutcher’s powerful offense on the sideline, was a point of emphasis for HHS coach Lou Valdin all week.

But the Bulldogs, as they do more often than not, dialed up the big play with great success. All four of the team’s offensive touchdowns spanned 25 yards or more.

The score remained close all night. The teams were in a scoreless tie after a quarter; it was 7-7 at halftime and 14-14 after three quarters.

Easton Melancon and Kailon Carter combined for a touchdown to begin the game, a 29 yard score. Carter finished with two receptions for 51 yards. Melancon completed 7 of his 21 pass attempts for 110 yards. He added 41 yards rushing.

Hahnville turned the ball over twice. Lutcher finished with no turnovers.

PREVIEW

LUTCHER — Lutcher coach Tim Detillier loves to use the analogy of a heavyweight fight to describe a contest between state powers. The annual Lutcher/Hahnville clash has certainly fit the bill.

In each of the past two years, each team’s extremely talented offense has been able to overcome the other’s accomplished defensive unit. In both cases, the Bulldogs have come out with the victory. The first was a double-overtime win two years ago keyed by Gavin Webster’s 5-touchdown, 299-yard rushing game; the second a 42-28 victory keyed in part by a heads up play by receiver Jarvis Landry, who not only negated a turnover by recovering a lateral on an interception return, but took it back for a touchdown.

Lutcher (1-1) has seen stout challenges from the jamboree on, facing Destrehan there, then Dutchtown and McDonogh 35, fellow highly-ranked 4A squad which it defeated decisively on Friday. Detillier said this clash with Hahnville will be yet another challenge

“I sound like a broken record, I know,” he began. “But for the fourth straight week, we’re facing a team that’s bigger, faster and stronger. We play these teams for a reason. We can’t simulate them on the practice field. Teams like Destrehan and Hahnville expose your weaknesses. They show you what you need to work on to become a complete football team.”

Detillier said that he anticipates a balanced attack from the Tigers (1-1).

“I think they’d rather run, but they can do both, run and pass,” said Detillier. “And with Hahnville, I always think of them as a defensive team. This year is no exception. They’ve very good in the secondary, which could present some issues.

“The best compliment I can pay Hahnville is that every time you watch their film, be it last week, last year, or years ago … the names change but the team looks the same. To establish that kind of consistency, what more can you ask?”

Valdin did not disagree with Detillier’s assessment of what he would like to see his team do on Friday. He made it clear: if the Tigers are going to win, it will begin with the run.

“Run the football,” he said. “This is always the type of game where great players make great plays. They’ve got a great player in (running back Daniel Taylor). He’s given us problems in the past. We don’t have that right now. So we’ve got to run the ball and keep him off the field.”

Valdin was pleased with the improvement he saw in his defense in Friday night’s 56-0 win at home over Istrouma, noting improved tackling and a stout effort stopping the run.

Offensively, Tigers quarterback Easton Melancon accounted for four touchdowns, including scoring passes to Kailon Carter, Ronnie Greene and Jaylon Bryant.

The coach also noted the game’s location as something his team must overcome. Lutcher just opened their new stadium on Friday, rebuilt after a fire caused severe damage late last season.

“You’re playing at Lutcher. So you know it will be a big emotional deal for them,” he said.

It seemed that way on Friday in Lutcher’s 42-14 win over the Roneagles. McDonogh No. 35 entered as the No. 7 ranked team in Class 4A after a victory over St. Augustine in the season’s first week; Lutcher was ranked sixth.

But quarterback Ruston Matherne accounted for four touchdowns.

Taylor rushed for 198 yards and two scores on 25 carries. LHS rushed for 385 yards overall.

“We played with emotion, but we were under control,” said Detillier. “We made some mistakes but when you play that hard for 48 minutes, you can overcome that sometimes. It was a great team effort.”

HAHNVILLE TIGERS