KINDER – The Kinder Yellow Jackets overcame numerous penalties and turnovers to notch a 20-8 homecoming over Ville Platte Bulldogs here Friday evening.
Ville Platte falls to 2-5 overall, and the Dogs are still winless in district play. It doesn’t get any easier for Ville Platte next week, as it hosts undefeated Notre Dame.
Although the final score had Kinder comfortably winning, during the run of play it was anything but an easy win. The Yellow Jackets always seemed just on the edge of dominating the game, only to find itself a victim of self-inflicted wounds.
Kinder fumbled the ball five times, losing possession twice; and it turned the ball over twice on interceptions. The Yellow Jackets were also undisciplined, racking up 14 penalties for 130 yards.
Bulldog skipper Jorie Randle was disappointed with the loss, but he was able to focus on the positives.
“Right now, our season is not about the scoreboard,” Randle explained. “It’s about playing hard all the way through the fourth quarter and finishing tough.”
“We lost a game that we had chances to win,” he continued, “but we didn’t quit playing. That’s the kind of effort that we need. We need to give full effort every play, all game. The difference between a first down and a touchdown is a split second of effort.”.
One example of how a game turns on a split-second decision came early in the third quarter. Trailing just 7-0, Ville Platte was putting together a good drive. Starting on its own 20-yardline following the second half kickoff, the Bulldogs marched down to the Yellow Jacket 16-yardline.
Senior tailback Jamal Byers, whose running was more explosive than in the first half, took a toss sweep into the end zone.
However, an untimely holding penalty not only canceled the score, but the Dogs were pushed back to the 26-yardline. The call seemed to knock Ville Platte off of its roll, and four plays later the Bulldogs turned the ball over on downs.
This was just the break that the Yellow Jackets needed. Kinder took over on its 15-yardline and scored six plays later, with tailback Ty Fuselier scooting in on a 24-yard run. Place kicker
Zack LaFargue nailed the point-after-try; and just like that, Ville Platte went from a tie-game to trailing 14-0.
The Yellow Jackets added another touchdown in the third quarter, but missed the two-point conversion, to go up 20-0.
At this point, it still didn’t feel like Ville Platte was totally out of it. But, the Bulldogs simply couldn’t get back on track.
The Dogs finally scored with 1:38 to play in the game on a three-yard keeper by quarterback Terrian Roy, who then hit Montique Goudy for the two-point conversion. Ville Platte tried an on-side kick, but Kinder recovered and ran out the time.
Kinder Tailback Ty Fuselier gave full effort on the evening, pacing the Yellow Jackets with 139 yards and two touchdowns. The sophomore averaged more than 8.5 yards per carry. In the third quarter alone, Fuselier rushed for 63 yards and a score on just five carries.
Meanwhile, despite two interceptions, the Kinder passing attack produced some impressive results. Skyler Leckelt recorded four catches for 117 yards, including a 56-yard touchdown reception. Quarterback Hayes Fawcett finished with 7-of-13 passing for 167 yards.
The Bulldogs were led by senior tailback Jamal Byers, who rushed for 100 yards.
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NICK JAGNEAUX Staff Writer