GRAND LAKE- Coming off of a win against Sacred Heart to begin the season, the Ville Platte High football team experienced a Tee-Cotton Bowl hangover affect as the Bulldogs lost on the road 22-7 against the Class 1A opponent Grand Lake Hornets.
The Bulldogs came out with some momentum to begin the night as Jaekwon Fontenot recovered a Hornet fumble on the first play of the game. However, Ville Platte could not capitalize on the change of possession and was forced to punt.
After a Grand Lake punt, Ville Platte began its next possession on its own 21-yard line. Later in the drive, on 2nd-and-6 from the Hornet 34-yard line, Terrian Roy escaped for 26 yards to set up a 1st-and-goal from the 8-yard line. Two plays later, the Bulldogs cashed in on a Jahmal Byers touchdown. The point after try was good to put Ville Platte ahead 7-0 at the 5:45 mark of the first quarter.
Grand Lake then got the ball back on its 42-yard line. Back-to-back penalties on the Bulldogs extended the drive which was capped off with a 26-yard touchdown run by Hornet quarterback Brayden Richard. The Hornets went for a two-point conversion and went on to lead 8-7 with 2:40 remaining in the opening quarter.
After a Bulldog punt, the Hornets added to their lead on a 12-yard throw and catch for a touchdown to Levi Murrell. The point after was again good to put Grand Lake ahead 15-7.
The Bulldog offense then went anemic, and Roy had two passes intercepted to close out the first half, however, Grand Lake took the same 15-7 lead into the halftime break.
Ville Platte punted to begin the second half, and Grand Lake scored on its ensuing possession on a 3-yard trot by Logun Granger. With the extra point, the Hornets led 22-7 with 6:43 in the third quarter.
Momentum switched sidelines to begin the fourth quarter as Ville Platte’s Quincy Bias recovered a fumble. However, the change in momentum fizzled as Roy had another pass intercepted.
“Our defense played a hell of a game,” Bulldog head coach Jorie Randle said, “but our offense stunk it up. We cannot win like that becoming one dimensional. Our backs didn’t hit the hole, and our offensive line didn’t block. The game was completely on the shoulders of the offense. It wasn’t just on the kids; it was on the play calling. We stunk it up on offense.”
The Bulldogs with a record of 1-1 return home Friday night to face the Bobcats of Eunice High who are 2-0 on the season after defeating Northwest 73-34 and Jennings 19-7.
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TONY MARKS Editor