Evening things up

VILLE PLATTE -- Despite a strong second half charge by the Pickering Red Devils, the Ville Platte Bulldogs were able to pick up a late score to secure a 29-20 non-district win here Friday night.
With the win, Ville Platte evens their record to 2-2 on the season and will travel to Oakdale to take on the Warriors this Friday night in another pivotal non-district contest.
Ville Platte dominated the entire first half of the game, holding Pickering to a woeful 26 total yards and led 14-0 at the half.
However, the Red Devils came out with a little more fire in their bellies, scoring on three different occasions in the second half to make the game interesting down the stretch.
“I was proud of the kids and the way that they came through in the end,” stated Ville Platte head coach Jorie Randle after the game. “One thing we always talk about is that championship teams always defend their own house. They might lose on the road, but if you protect your turf, it puts you in a good position at the end of the season.”
Ville Platte jumped out to a quick start, scoring on their first possession of the contest. After pushing Pickering back 15 yards on their first drive, the Bulldogs took over at their 49-yard line following the Red Devil punt.
Runs by Jahamal Byers and a 24 yard pick up on a scramble by quarterback Terrian Roy gave Ville Platte a first and goal situation at the Pickering two-yard line. On the very next play, Byers plunged in for the touchdown to give the Bulldogs their first score of the night.
The extra point attempt was blocked, but Ville Platte led 6-0 with eight minutes to go in the opening quarter.
“The offensive line did a tremendous job of getting Jahmal the space he needed to make plays,” said Randle. “We have been able to create some depth up front in the last few weeks and it is starting to pay off for us.”
The two teams exchanged possessions for almost the remaining time in the first quarter, with the Bulldogs continuing to stymie the Red Devil offense.
Ville Platte did get the ball back with a little over two minutes left in the quarter at their six-yard line and proceeded to methodically march down the field. A few big runs and a couple of big pass plays, including a 35 yard pitch and catch from Roy to Ernest Roberts gave the Bulldogs the ball at the Red Devil one-yard line.
Two attempts to put the ball in the end zone by Byers came up short. On third and goal, Roy followed his left guard into the end zone on the quarterback sneak to increase the Bulldog lead. Roy found Roberts for the two-point pass and Ville Platte now led 14-0 with 8:18 to go before half.
That score would remain for the rest of the second quarter.
“Terrian is getting better and better each week,” commented Randle. “He is still learning. He made some plays with his feet. He keeps both hands on the wheel and the sky is the limit for him. We are glad to have him around.”
It took almost the entire third quarter before either of the teams could put up any points at all. The Bulldogs did get close, driving the ball all the way down to the Red Devil 19-yard line, but turned the ball over on downs after going for it on fourth down.
After Pickering fumbled the ball back to Ville Platte on their next possession, the Red Devils regained possession when the Bulldogs were forced to punt on the ensuing drive. A three yard punt off of the foot of Roberts set Pickering up in excellent field position at the Ville Platte 30-yard line.
The first play from scrimmage did not go well for the Red Devils, netting zero yards. However, Pickering got more than enough on second down when Gregory Jones sprinted 30 yards for the score.
Quarterback Evan Fernandez raced in for the two-point conversion and with 1:28 to go in the third quarter, the Red Devils cut the Bulldog lead down to 14-8.
Ville Platte, not wanting Pickering to inch closer, got the ball back and marched down to the Red Devil six-yard line in six plays. On first and goal, the Bulldogs were tagged for holding, setting the ball back at the 16-yard line.
On the next play, Roy scrambled from the pocket, found some room around the left side and sprinted his way to pay dirt. Byers added the two-point run, extending the Ville Platte lead to 22-8 with 9:38 left to go in the game.
Two possessions later, it was Pickering’s turn to get on the board. Taking over at their 49-yard line after a Bulldog punt, the Red Devils lost valuable yardage with a pass interference call on their wide receiver, setting up a fourth down and 28 at their 31-yard line.
On the final play of the drive, quarterback Deshawn Jackson threw up a jump ball down the right sideline that was hauled in by Fernandez, who then out raced the Ville Platte secondary for the 69 yard touchdown grab. The two-point run failed, making the score 22-14 in favor of the Bulldogs with 3:08 to play in the game.
Seeing the game get closer than they wanted, Ville Platte took the next possession and wasted no time putting some distance between them and Pickering. Starting at their 47-yard line, the Bulldogs called upon Byers to carry the load, handing him the ball three consecutive times.
Byers collected 22 and 28 yards on the ground in his first two carries, putting the ball at the Red Devil three-yard line. On first down, Byers plowed in for the score. Roberts nailed the extra point and Ville Platte now had a 29-14 lead with 2:43 to go.
Not to be outdone, Pickering found the formula on their next possession pressing the ball up the field. Beginning from their 36-yard line, the Red Devils dinked and dunked their way up the field, using short to intermediate passes. Six plays later, aided by a roughing the passer call on the Bulldogs, Jackson scrambled his way into the end zone from 10 yards out.
The two-point pass attempt was no good, putting the score at 29-20 in favor of Ville Platte with 1:06 left in the game.
That should have sealed the game, but Pickering would get the ball right back after recovering the on side kick. The Red Devils drove the ball down to the Bulldog 13-yard line, but time ran out for Pickering, as the drive ended right there when time expired.
Byers led all rushers with 211 yards on 26 carries and two touchdowns. Roy collected another 50 yards on the ground in 12 attempts, scoring two touchdowns.
In the air, Roy was eight of 13 for 107 yards and one interception. Roberts gathered in four passes for 91 yards.