By RYAN ARENA

L’Observateur

 

LUTCHER — Friday night’s game between Lutcher and visiting St. Michael was the biggest in the still young District 8-4A season.

And, as usual, Lutcher rose to the occasion.

Ruston Matherne accounted for three touchdowns and the Lutcher defense recorded a shutout as the Bulldogs captured a 25-0 victory to remain undefeated, both overall and in district play.

Lutcher (6-0, 4-0) is a half game ahead of Plaquemine, who is 3-0 in district, for the 8-4A lead.

Both teams had the ground game working. Lutcher rushed for 246 yards and St. Michael rushed for 180 yards.

But efficiency in the passing game is where LHS separated itself. Matherne completed 20 of 23 passes for 173 yards and a score. St. Michael quarterback Brandon Fields, conversely, completed 12 of 28 attempts for 97 yards and two interceptions; one of those passes was intercepted by Matherne at the LHS 3 to stop a scoring threat just before halftime.

Lutcher accounted for 419 total yards.

Matherne rushed 20 times for 115 yards. Torian Shorty rushed 11 times for 103 yards.

Seven different Bulldog receivers caught two passes or more. DeAmphrany Davis led the Bulldogs with three catches for 38 yards. Spencer Roussel and Destin Porter each caught four passes.

Lutcher took a 6-0 lead with 3:18 left in the opening quarter on a 7-yard pass from Matherne to DiJohn Payne.

With 7:50 left to go in the second quarter, Matherne took it in from 3 yards out to make it 12-0 — that score stood at the half.

Matherne added another rushing score, this one from a yard away, to make it 18-0 with 7:40 left in the third quarter. Less than four minutes later, Destin Porter all but put things away with his own 4-yard rushing score. That last run was set up by a 60-yard run by Shorty.

For St. Michael (5-2, 2-1), C.J. Okpalobi accounted for 113 yards on 22 touches.