By RYAN ARENA

L’Observateur

NAPOLEONVILLE — Having largely dominated since its opening week loss to Dutchtown, Lutcher couldn’t have been short on confidence.

That said, the last time it played a foe so highly ranked did indeed come in that first week against Dutchtown. Assumption, the second-ranked team in Class 4A, would provide the stiffest test since that day, it stood to reason.

The Bulldogs passed with flying colors though, winning a non-district game in convincing fashion, 28-9, behind 21 unanswered points in the second half, snapping Assumption’s undefeated streak at eight.

Assumption (8-1) led 9-7 after the first half. Lutcher coach Tim Detillier had a simple message for his team at half, however.

“The most important play is the next play. Leave everything else behind,” he said. “Everything that could go wrong in that first half, went wrong. They stopped us, goalline stand, right before halftime. So you knew they had some momentum … even with that, though, it was still 9-7. Nose to the grindstone, and play 24 minutes of Lutcher football.”

The first “next play” of major relevance offensively came early in the second half, when quarterback Ruston Matherne took off for a 49-yard rushing score, giving LHS a 13-9 lead with 8:50 remaining in the third. Daniel Taylor’s two-point run was good, making it 15-9.

Matherne scored his third rushing touchdown of the night (he scored a 2-yarder in the first half) just under four minutes later, a 1-yard run that made it 21-9.

From there, the LHS defense held the Mustangs at bay, and the only score thereafter would be another Bulldogs touchdown, a 92-yard Taylor run to put a bow on the victory.

Lutcher (8-1) entered the game ranked fourth within Class 4A.

“We got some big stops tonight. I can’t say enough about our defense,” said Detillier. “Then the offense takes the ball right down the field in that third quarter.”

Lutcher held Assumption to 169 total yards.

Taylor rushed for 228 yards and a score on 22 attempts to lead Lutcher. Matherne rushed for 143 yards on 19 carries.

The Bulldogs return to District 6-4A play next week as it travels to Plaquemine in what is now a winner-take-all showdown for the league’s championship. Both teams are 5-0 within 6-4A.

“Tonight was a big win, but our focus is now completely on Plaquemine,” said Detillier. “We need to go there, and they’re not going to give it to us.”