ERIK SANZENBACH / L’Observateur / November 8, 1999

DONALDSONVILLE-The Lutcher Bulldogs easily clinched the District 9-3A title last night with a 31-13 victory over the Donaldsonville Tigers.

The Bulldogs end the regular season with a 4-0 record in the district, an 8-2 record overall and a trip to the play-offs. Donaldsonville finished at3-7 overall and 1-3 in district.

With total offensive yardage of 413 yards, the Bulldogs walked all over the Tigers. Quarterback Thomas Ricks had 11 attempts with sixcompletions for 204 yards and four touchdowns, the longest being 81 yards to receiver Kenneth Johnson.

The Bulldogs won the toss and started their first drive on their own 40- yard line. Despite two fumbles by Ricks, Lutcher drove the ball quickleydownfield and scored on a 7-yard pass from Ricks to Jerron Wishoml. Thepoint after was blocked and at four minutes into the game, Lutcher went up 6-0 The Tigers started the next series on their 28, but couldn’t manage to move anywhere, and quarterback Terrence Brown was sacked for the first of nine times.

The Tigers punted, and Lutcher took over on their own 38. However, theydidn’t seem to have much luck either as Ricks missed several passes and the team lost yardage on a facemask penalty. They turned the ball over ondowns on the Tiger’s 34-yard line.

Donaldsonville got a quick first down with a pass interference call against Lutcher, but then the Tiger Tony LeBlanc fumbled on the very next play and Bulldog defensive end Clarence Weber recovered the ball and ran it back 44 yards for a Lutcher score. Bourgeois missed the extra point andthe score was 12-0 The Tigers ended the first quarter by punting the ball away. Lutcher wasslowed down by the Tiger defense and Ricks was sacked. They punted theball a measly 14 yards, and the Tigers took over on the Bulldog’s 41.

But the Tigers seemed to lose some steam and they were forced to punt after four downs, moving Lutcher back to their own 19-yard line.

On the very first play of the series, Ricks connected with Kenneth Johnson for an 81-yard touchdown pass. Bourgeois’ point after kick was blockedand with six minutes left in the half, Lutcher had a commanding 18-0 lead.

With six seconds left in the half, Lutcher was back on their one-yard line and Ricks fumbled. Tiger Duston Shexnayder recovered and ran the ball intothe end-zone for Donaldsonville’s first score of the evening. The Tigerstried for a 2 point conversion but failed. The half ended 18-6.The Tigers came out swinging hard in the second half. Taking the kick-offat their 43-yard line, Brown moved his team down to the Bulldog 13, first with a 30-yard run and then at 10:03, he ran it in 13 yards for a touchdown. The point after kick was good and the score was now 18-13.Lutcher took over on their 20 and with strong running by Damien Ursin and Wishom, the Bulldogs moved the ball down to the Tigers’ 17.

However, the Donaldsonville defense held the Bulldogs, and on fourth and 10, Bourgeois tried a 35-yard field goal but couldn’t get the ball through the uprights. The Tigers took over.Donaldsonville started running behind Mike Lymon and Brown. On theBulldog 37, Matt Darville broke through the Lutcher defense and ran it into the end zone. However, a clipping penalty brought the ball back. The lossof the touchdown took the wind out of the Tigers’ sails, and they punted the ball away.

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