By GEORGE MAHL

Sports Editor

LUTCHER – The first two touchdowns scored for Lutcher did not involve their offense. A 95-yard kickoff return by Carlos Brown and a 26-yard fumble return for a touchdown by Jordan Gant gave the Bulldogs a quick lead and paved the way for a 23-14 victory over E.D White Friday night in Lutcher.

“I told our guys to stick together and play hard,” said Lutcher quarterback Dustin Mitchell.

With the Bulldogs leading 17-14 late in the game, Lutcher converted three crucial third downs to keep their offense on the field. All three conversions were running plays.

“The word for the week for us was run,” Mitchell said.

Mitchell’s big play came when he ran for the first down on third and two from the Bulldogs 23-yard-line. Mitchell dragged numerous tacklers with him to get the first down. Two plays later, Wayne Albert took it in from the three-yard line to make the score 23-14 Lutcher.

Following the opening kickoff the Bulldogs defense stiffened. E.D White quarterback Nolan Dumas had his pass intercepted by Brown in Lutcher territory.

Lutcher then went on a methodical 25-play, 86-yard-drive that resulted in a 21-yard field goal by Draque Pittman. The key play on the drive was an 11-yard run by Mitchell on third down and long.

The Cardinals did not have much luck on their next possession either. E.D White went three and out and had to punt on fourth down.

Lutcher, however, could also not do much with the ball. Mitchell threw and incomplete pass on third down and on fourth down to stall the Lutcher drive with about four minutes to go until halftime.

Special teams got the Cardinals on the board in the third quarter. Facing a fourth and six, E.D White blocked a Lutcher punt and was recovered by Cardinals free safety Chris Martin for a touchdown. The two-point conversion pass from Robbie Breaux to Dumas made the score 17-8 Lutcher. Lutcher led 17-8 at halftime.

At the start of the second half, behind the running of Daniel Naul, the Cardinals moved the ball down the field but stalled when Dumas threw an incomplete pass on fourth down.

After E.D White turned the ball over on downs, the Bulldogs ran the ball with fullback Wayne Albert and Mitchell. The Bulldogs drive ended when Albert was tackled for a four-yard loss at the E.D White 47-yard line.

A Lutcher fumble recovery gave the Cardinals excellent field position at the Lutcher 2-yard-line. The next play saw the Cardinals take it in from the two-yard line. The point after touchdown, however, was blocked.

“I am thankful that we are 4-3, but we have to take it one game at a time because we have got a difficult schedule upcoming,” said Lutcher Head Coach Tim Detillier.