By RYAN ARENA

L’Observateur

LUTCHER — It took just one scrimmage for Lutcher’s newest addition to pay off.

The Bulldogs broke in their brand new field turf for the first time Friday night as LHS hosted West St. John for their annual scrimmage one that likely would not have been possible if not for the turf, after a cascade of heavy rain on Thursday and then before Friday’s contest.

“I thought the star of the night was the field,” said Lutcher coach Tim Detillier. “There was a gully wash here just hours before the game. We’d have postponed it to Saturday, but then it rained all of Saturday and all of Sunday.

“We wouldn’t have wanted to tear up the field … so in reality, Lutcher and West St. John wouldn’t have even had a scrimmage. I was glad we did though, because I thought both teams got some real good work in against one another.”

The Bulldogs’ first team was led by quarterback Ruston Matherne. The Bulldogs outscored the Rams’ first team two touchdowns to one over seven possessions on the night, Matherne scoring both touchdowns on keepers.

The night had something of a perfect beginning for Lutcher. After beginning things with a ribbon-cutting ceremony to unveil the new field, the very first play of the night saw Brian Bowser come away with an interception on a tipped ball. It set up Lutcher’s first touchdown, a 3-yard Matherne run.

“I couldn’t have scripted the beginning any better,” said Detillier.

West St. John, though, had to be pleased with the way the night unfolded, going toe-to-toe with an upper-classification 4A foe that historically has had a significant advantage in the annual scrimmage series.

“I was pleased,” said West St. John coach Robert Valdez. “I thought we competed very well. We went back and forth.

“I thought we really set the tone on defense, starting with Dontre Turner. He’s got that tremendous ability to make the big hit. Justin Bethancourt has solidified himself as a great cover corner. Javan Toney batted some balls down and Koi Rainey made some tremendous plays up the middle.”

Detillier was also impressed by the opposition.

“I felt like this was the best West St. John team we’ve scrimmaged against since the Tyson Jackson days,” said Detillier.

The Rams second team outscored the Bulldogs’ first team 2-1.

Lutcher scored its first touchdown on an 3-yard run by Ruston Matherne, a score set up by an interception by Brian Bowser.

The Rams answered to tie things up on a 6-yard run by Jeremy Jackson. That was set up by a 38-yard strike from Austin Howard to Kylum Favorite.

Lutcher scored the eventual “winner” for the first team when he rushed for his second score of the night.

The Rams’ second team scored on a 16-yard touchdown pass from Jermoine Green to Brandon Matthews.

Valdez said that the offensive line is still coming together, but he was encouraged by the Rams’ progress in terms of pass protection.

He also said that there’s still an adjustment to be made when shifting from blocking for a patient, downhill rusher like Favorite and a off-to-the-races speedster like Jackson.

“Jeremy likes to get right up through the hole immediately and run. Kylum’s a little more patient and lets things develop. They’ve got different styles.”