By RYAN ARENA

L’Observateur

 LAPLACE — A prideful Lutcher team determined to net its first victory took its home field Friday night with a stern test awaiting: a Class 5A contender in East Ascension.

The Bulldogs traded punches with the Spartans for a half, but East Ascension overcame the loss to star rusher Sione Palelei to outscore the Bulldogs 28-6 in the second half en route to a 44-26 victory.

Lutcher (0-5) led 20-16 at halftime after Christian Matherne’s 5-yard touchdown pass to Al’Dontrae Davis with a minute left in the first half.

But Chad Hill’s 89-yard kickoff return to begin the second half gave East Ascension the lead for good at 23-20. A Layne Trahan 3-yard run made it a 10-point game.

Palelei suffered a knee injury midway through the second quarter. He rushed for 44  yards on nine carries before exiting the game.

Trahan accounted for three total touchdowns and passed for 221 yards. Joshua Walker led the Spartans (5-0) in rushing with 51 yards and tow touchdowns on nine carries.

Dondre Semien led Lutcher on the ground with 87 yards and a score on 16 carries. Christian Matherne and Paul Taylor split the Bulldogs’ quarterback reps, Matherne completing 11 of 15 passes for 113 yards and a score while Taylor completed 8-of-12 attempts for 78 yards and a touchdown. Matherne added a rushing touchdown, while Treylon Smith caught two passes for 39 yards and a score. Nick Bourgeois led LHS in receiving with three receptions for 53 yards.

Penalties hurt Lutcher. The Bulldogs were flagged 10 times for 73 yards.