Gators’ win big over Patriots, 48-26

The South Terrebonne Gators showed just how special they were, opening the game with two special teams touchdowns on their way to a 48-26 win Friday night over the Ellender Patriots in Bourg.

With the win, the Gators improved their record to 9-0 overall and 5-0 in District 6-5A, while the Patriots dropped to 4-5 overall and 2-3 in District 6-5A.

South Terrebonne Head Coach Richard Curlin said even though it was not the prettiest win in the sloppy conditions, he will take it.

“We wanted to come out quick with the sloppy conditions like it was tonight,” Curlin said. “One thing that makes a coach nervous is to be the favorite and have the team come out on a sloppy night and play sloppy. Overall, we’ll take it.”

Special teams stepped up early for the Gators. After a 90-yard touchdown by Phillip Livas on the opening kickoff, the defense held the Patriots three and out and forced them to punt.

The punt was blocked and then caught in the air by Bradley Russo, who ran 30 yards for the score to put the Gators up 14-0 with 9:35 to play in the first quarter.

The Patriots responded three plays later on a 65-yard touchdown run by Jesse Turner to cut the lead to 14-6 following a missed extra point with 8:36 to play in the first quarter.

However, the Gators responded on their ensuing possession when Livas ran 34 yards to cap off a four-play drive to put the Gators up 21-6.

Livas scored his third touchdown of the night in the early second quarter on an 84-yard run. The Gators led 28-6 following the extra point.

Livas added one more touchdown, this time of 85 yards, before halftime to give the Gators a comfortable 35-6 lead.

Ellender head coach Tawaskie Anderson said his team simply did not start on the right foot.

“We have to execute on offense and tackle and pursuit on defense,” Anderson said. “The team did not rise to the occasion in the fist half but finished in the second half.”

The Patriots started off strong in the second half, putting together a nine play drive, which was capped off by a two-yard touchdown run by Turner.

The two-point conversion try failed however and the Gators lead was cut to 35-12.

After Gators quarterback Blake Martin was intercepted by Norman Porche on the Gators opening drive of the half, the Patriots used a 51-yard pass from Hosea Chatman to Bradford Matthews to set up a five-yard touchdown run by Turner.

The two-point attempt failed again and the Gators lead was cut to 35-18.

The Gators were shut out the entire third quarter but got back on the board in the fourth as they put together a 15-play 83-yard drive capped off by a five-yard touchdown pass from Martin to Janzen Verdin to increase to lead 42-18.

Russo picked off Chatman on the ensuing possession and the Gators scored once again, this time on a 46-yard run by Kody Breaux. The lead was increased to 48-18 with just over three minutes to play in the game.

The Patriots scored the final points of the game at around the two-minute mark on 18-yard pass from Chatman to Ahkeem Lewis.

The two-point conversion was successful this time and the Patriots trailed 48-26, which was the eventual final score.

Livas finished the night with 266 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns to lead all Gators while Turner led the charge for the Patriots with 187 rushing yards and three touchdowns.

With the chance to now go 10-0 for the first time since the 2001 season, Curlin said his team is aware of what lies ahead.

“They’ve done a good job of staying focused on the game in front of us,” Curlin said. “We have to go to Terrebonne and I’m sure they are going to play with pride so we have to go over there and play hard to win the ballgame.”

Anderson said the Patriots need to show up against Thibodaux next week to have a shot at the playoffs.

“We have an extra playoff game next week,” Anderson said. “We just have to stay focused and beat Thibodaux. We have to keep up the intensity and we’ll be OK.”