By RYAN ARENA

L’Observateur

 

BATON ROUGE — Third-ranked Lutcher didn’t find much resistance at all to its bid to extend its unbeaten streak to seven, as it went on the road to defeat winless Belaire, 55-0.

Lutcher (7-0, 5-0) remains a half-game ahead of Plaquemine (5-3, 4-0) in District 6-4A. A collision course between the teams for a final week district championship showdown was all but sealed Friday, as Plaquemine edged St. Michael, 37-36.

The Green Devils will be heavily favored next week as it faced Belaire (0-6, 0-4), while Lutcher will face Assumption in a non-district game.

Lutcher has allowed just six points total over its last five games. The Belaire victory was LHS’s third consecutive shutout.

Lutcher quarterback Ruston Matherne completed 8-of-13 pass attempts for 200 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. DiJohn Payne rushed three times for 61 yards and two touchdowns.

And Spencer Roussel hauled in two receptions for 95 yards and two touchdowns — both came in the first quarter from Matherne, from 41 and 54 yards respectively. Matthew Faucheux’s punt return for a touchdown gave LHS a 21-0 lead after the first quarter.

That lead grew to a 28-0 halftime advantage after Payne scored the lone second quarter touchdown from 11-yards out. His 43-yard third quarter run made it a 35-0 advantage.

Torian Shorty, Tyler LeBlanc and Paul Taylor each ran for second half touchdowns to round out the Lutcher scoring.

Lutcher outgained Belaire 323-83. The Bengals finished with minus-22 yards rushing. Belaire quarterback Tyler Woods completed 12-of-21 passes for 105 yards and an interception.