By RYAN ARENA
L’Observateur

Lutcher turned the ball over six times this week against Belaire, not usually a recipe for victory.

But it didn’t matter. The Bulldogs dominated despite those hiccups, beating visiting Belaire 43-16 in a District 6-4A game at home.

It was a needed victory for Lutcher (5-4, 2-2), which had lost four of its previous five games. Belaire was LHS’ last district foe, with a non-district home contest with Miller McCoy concluding the regular season for LHS next week.

Jontre Kirklin completed 16 of 24 pass attempts for 276 yards and four touchdown passes. Al’Dontre Davis hauled in five receptions for 185 yards and three touchdowns while Gregory Clayton caught the fourth Kirklin scoring pass.

LHS turned the ball over twice within its first five plays from scrimmage, including one inside the Belaire (3-6, 0-3) 10-yard line.

Belaire led 8-0 after a 2-yard DaQuan Hicks touchdown run and a Tyler Woods to Timothy Johnson two-point conversion pass.

Lutcher tied things up in the second quarter on Kirklin’s 41-yard touchdown pass to Davis and Destin Porter’s two-point run.

Lutcher took a 15-8 lead before halftime on a second Kirklin-to-Davis connection, then the Bulldogs wasted no more time putting things away in the second half.

Porter scored on a 1-yard run to make it 22-8 early in the third quarter.

Kirklin’s 9-yard touchdown pass to Gregory Clayton opened things up to 29-8. Then Lutcher’s defense got in on the action when defensive tackle Tyler Williams scooped a fumble and scored on a 19-yard return, making it 36-8.

Kirklin’s third touchdown pass to Davis rounded out the Lutcher scoring.

Lutcher currently stands 24th in Class 4A power rankings. 6-4A district foes St. Michael and Plaquemine are ranked first and second in those rankings.