By Lori Lyons

The undefeated Lutcher Bulldogs dominated Assumption in every phase of the game Friday night on the way to a 35-6 non-district victory.

The offense amassed 354 yards, mostly behind the running and passing of quarterback Ruston Matherne. The senior completed 11 passes for 149 yards and two touchdowns, plus he ran for 128 yards and another score. Running back Dijohn Payne scored two more touchdowns.

The Lutcher defense, meanwhile, held Assumption to 100 yards rushing. Quarterback Cameron Blame was 8 of 17 passing for 147 yards – including a 67-yard touchdown pass which accounted for the Mustangs’ lone score. But he was intercepted three times.

And the special teams recovered a fumbled kickoff return by the Mustangs.

“I think it was our most complete game against a quality opponent,” Detiller said. “I just though offensively, defensively, special teams, for four quarters, this was our most complete game.”

The Bulldogs’ defense was the first to step up. Assumption took the opening kickoff and was on the move, driving from its own 14-yard line to the 50 on six plays. But on the seventh, Lutcher’s Ridge Melancon intercepted Blame’s pass at about the Lutcher 20.

“I’m not going to start with me, we all did good,” Melancon said, speaking for the defense. “We did our jobs. Everyone was in good position. It’s not just me on that interception. I just dropped back. My coach told me it was going to be there.”

It wouldn’t take long for the offense to respond. After the turnover, Lutcher drove from its own 47 to the Assumption 1, with Payne driving for the final yard with 6:43 remaining in the first quarter. Spencer Roussel’s PAT kick put the Bulldogs ahead 7-0.

Assumption came back, however. Blame took the Mustangs from their own 20 to the 39 on eight short-yardage plays. On third-and 11, he dropped back and threw deep to Dejuawn Oliver for a 61-yard touchdown. The Mustangs elected to go for 2, but failed. And Lutcher’s defense assured that would be Assumption’s only score of the night.

But the Bulldogs would score four more, the first on an impressive 64-yard run by Matherne, who outran every Assumption defender for the score. Roussel’s PAT put Lutcher ahead 14-0 with 2:20 to play in the first quarter.

Matherne would connect with Roussel on a 14-yard touchdown pass with 4:23 remaining in the second quarter to put the Bulldogs ahead 21-6.

In the third quarter, Lutcher’s Chase Calderera recovered an Assumption fumble at the Mustangs’ 21-yard line. Two plays later, Payne scored from the 4.

The Bulldogs capped the scoring with 7:11 left in the game. On second down at the Assumption 15, Matherne threw into the end zone for Sully Martin, who tipped the ball into the air then made the catch for the score.

Detillier said he had his team prepared for a war against the Mustangs, who were coming off a triple-overtime loss last week to Vandebilt Catholic and who have scored more than 40 points in their last three games.

“Assumption is a good football team,” Detillier said. “They’re coming off a three-overtime game and I remember last year’s game. We have a good relationship. We always play a good game. There’s a good possibility we’ll meet again.”