Welp, that one was rough for South Lafourche fans.
Lutcher rolled past the Tarpons 42-0 on Friday night, showcasing why they are the best team in our local 4A district.
See our 5 takes from the game below:
1. Bulldogs’ defense the real deal – All week long, we had heard the hype of how good Lutcher’s defense was. We heard stories of their elite play up front. We heard stories of their ability to fly to the ball. We heard stories about how they were by far the best defense of anyone in our local 4A district. They weren’t lying. Lutcher’s defense is ridiculous. They’re dominant up front, they fly to the ball and they’re a group that is just vicious. What a group.
2. Field position – You can break down a 42-0 ballgame a lot of different ways, but to me, field position was by far the biggest factor in Friday night’s game. Lutcher has a dominant kicker who kept kicking either touchbacks or kickoffs that the Tarpons were returning to around the 15-yard-line, leaving the Tarpons’ offense to have to go 80+ yards to score. Lutcher would then force a punt, then would get the ball in plus-territory and would have just 30-40-yards to go to score. Rinse. Repeat. That was the story of the game. Lutcher dominated field position on Friday and that went a long way in their win.
3. Tarpons’ defense battled – South Lafourche gave up 42 points, but I actually thought their defense played relatively well – given the tough circumstances they were put in. Outside of a couple long runs, the Tarpons fought back against the Bulldogs for a lot of the night and limited them. They forced several turnovers and got a few turnovers on downs, as well. At some point, the offense has to flip the field back and that just didn’t happen on Friday.
4. Meathead gaining steam – Landin Dardar was tough on Friday. The Lutcher defense is elite. The score was lopsided and not in the Tarpons’ favor. But ol’ Meathead kept chugging and kept carrying the football and running hard. I don’t know how many yards Dardar ended up with on Friday, but I know he ran hard and took a beating while doing it. I’m proud of you, kid. Way to give it your all.
5. Lutcher is the cream of the crop in local 4A – Lutcher is the best team in our local 4A district. They already own a win over Vandebilt and now South Lafourche. I’m hard pressed to find a team in the district who is going to be able to challenge them for a second-straight season. What’s impressive about the Bulldogs is that they are winning this fall in a completely different way than they did last. Last year, their offense was like a drag racing crew – a group which tried to score 1,000 points in a game if they could. This year, it’s a more conservative offense that’s relying on an elite defense. To be able to be elite both ways in consecutive years is impressive.
6. Next week is big – Next week is a big football game for the Tarpons. The Assumption Mustangs are coming in, and they will present a big challenge. If the Tarpons want to make the playoffs in Division I non-select, that’s a game they absolutely, positively have to have. There’s no other way to slice it.
7. ‘Atta boy, Hughes! – I told sophomore cornerback Andravin Hughes on Wednesday night at the JV game that it was time he got a pick. He had dropped a few in recent weeks and was due. He listened. Hughes got a diving interception in the second quarter – the first of his varsity career. That’s more like it!