The Rough Riders won the eighth annual U.S. Army Red Stick Bowl in dramatic fashion with an 88-yard hook-and-lateral touchdown in the last minute to beat the Black Knights, 33-31.
The Rough Riders scored 14 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to win the football game between teams comprised of players from the Baton Rouge metro area.
Having trailed by as many as 13 points at one time, the Rough Riders needed to go nearly the length of the field in the closing minutes when quarterback Jeremy Meyers threw a quick 3-yard pass to Jovhan Gilbert. Gilbert then lateralled to Demarcaze Givens, and the senior from Baton Rouge Woodlawn streaked down the right sideline for the game-winning touchdown.
"I expected a 7-6 ballgame, so to score this many points is a testament to the quality of the athletes on the field, and the coaches and assistant coaches," said Rough Riders coach Dru Nettles of Denham Springs.
Baton Rouge Redemptorist receiver Deuce Coon led the Rough Riders with five catches for 117 yards and two touchdowns, Watson Live Oak quarterback David Bell completed 10-of-19 pass attempts for 129 yards and two touchdowns.
Coon recently caught three touchdown passes in the Mainland All-Stars’ 26-6 victory over Hawaii/Polynesia in Honolulu’s Aloha Stadium.
Central quarterback Will Briscoe of the Black Knights completed 8-of-17 passes for 152 yards and a touchdown. Kevin Wright caught three passes for 77 yards and a score. Briscoe and his twin brother, wide receiver Wes, have committed to McNeese State.
Bayou too much for River, 17-13
The Bayou region all-stars edged the River region all-stars, 17-13, in the 10th annual HTV-Lions Club Bayou vs. River Showdown All-Star Classic featuring players from south Louisiana.
The Bayou was clinging to its four-point lead when the River took over with 1:11 left. Standout Lutcher quarterback Gavin Webster guided the River to the Bayou’s 29-yard line before the Bayou forced four consecutive incompletions, including one in the end zone on the last play of the game.
"We play great football down here in the bayou, and we are a very physical district," said Bayou coach Danny Carroll, who serves as Thibodaux’s defensive coordinator. "We proved that. I couldn’t be more proud of our kids….We played great football."
Terrebonne running back Dimonique Matthews was named the Bayou MVP after rushing 11 times for 58 yards and returning two kickoffs for 83 yards. The Bayou was comprised of senor players from Lafourche, Terrebonne and Assumption parishes.
Webster and Destrehan running back Henry Lenox were named the River’s co-MVPs. Webster completed 4-of-10 passes for 79 yards and rushed seven times for 32 yards. Lenox carried six times for 87 yards, including a touchdown. The River was comprised of senior players from St. James, St. John and St. Charles parishes.
Hilliard tops Class 3A All-State team again
For the second year in a row, Patterson junior running back Kenny Hilliard was voted the Outstanding Offensive Player on the Louisiana Sports Writers Association’s Class 3A All-State team. Hilliard, the nephew of former LSU and New Orleans Saints standout Dalton Hilliard, rushed 278 times for 2,512 yards and 32 touchdowns.
After helping Notre Dame of Crowley win the state title, senior linebacker D.J. Welter, was voted the Outstanding Defensive Player. Welter, who has committed to LSU, amassed 143 total tackles, including 88 solos stops and 11 tackles for losses. He also broke up five passes.
E.D. White’s Kyle Lasseigne’s of Thibodaux E.D. White was voted Coach of the Year for guiding the Cardinals to the District 6-3A title and their first state semifinal appearance since 1982.
Class 2A team features Palmer, Ashburn
Many quarterback D.J. Palmer and River Ridge John Curtis defensive end Walker Ashburn were named the Outstanding Players on the Class 2A All-State team.
Palmer, who made the team as an athlete, won the offensive award after accounting for 3,662 yards and 51 touchdowns. The 6-foot-3, 260-pound Ashburn won defensive honors for having accumulated 91 total tackles, including 17 quarterback sacks.
Freddie Hallman of Alexandria Holy Savior Menard Catholic was named Coach of the Year for having guided Menard to an 11-2 record and its first state quarterfinal berth since the 1970s.
Like father, like son in Class 1A
Not only did David Franklin lead Haynesville to a Class 1A state title, but he can now add Coach of the Year to his growing list of accomplishment. Franklin followed in the footsteps of his well-known father, Alton, who also claimed the award in addition to having won 11 state championships.
Gueydan running back Davante Bourque was named Outstanding Offensive Player on the Class 1A All-State team after having rushed for 1,779 yards and 30 touchdowns.
South Plaquemines linebacker Seth Ancar repeated as the Outstanding Defensive Player for having registered 75 tackles, including 15 for losses. Despite losing to Haynesville in the state championship game, South Plaquemines placed six players on the first team.
Boys Basketball: Istrouma wins in five overtimes
The boys basketball season is still young, but already Baton Rouge Istrouma and Dutchtown have played an epic game, with Istrouma winning in five overtimes, 82-80.
Dutchtown led from the second quarter until Istrouma’s Steven Jackson sent the game into its first overtime with a free throw that tied the score at 57-57 with seven seconds left in regulation.
The scores were tied at 63 after the first overtime, 67 after the second, 71 after the third and 75 after the fourth.
Dutchtown took an 80-77 lead in the fifth overtime when Scott Burgess scored five of his game-high 46 points. But Burgess fouled out, and Istrouma forged ahead.
Dutchtown had a chance to tie, but Terrance Cushenberry missed three shots before Istrouma’s Jackson rebounded with a second left.
