Donaldsonville overcomes slow start to bypass Lusher, 54-16

Having started the season 5-0, Donaldsonville entered Friday night’s home district 10-3A contest with Lusher reeling. The Tigers’ roar was restored by night’s end.

Jaylin Williams passed for four touchdowns, including two to Ladarius Jackson in a convincing 54-16 victory over the Lions. Williams also accounted for six points on two-point conversions as he accounted for 30 points in the contest.

Williams finished 8-of-17 for 177 yards and four touchdowns while Jackson had four catches for 112 yards and two scores. Jamon Pleasant added 14 carries for 103 yards and a touchdown to provide balance for the Tigers.

The game started off with some fireworks. On the second play of the game, Donaldsonville’s Jeffrey Johnson scored a 62-yard touchdown run. Rae’land Johnson ran for the two-point conversion to make it 8-0. One the ensuing kickoff, Lusher’s Miles Stewart raced 90 yards and Enzo Reginelli’s extra point cut the deficit to 8-7.

The Lions would take the lead late in the first quarter on a one-yard touchdown run by senior Ari Broussard and it was 13-8 after a missed extra point.

The second quarter and rest of the game belonged to Donaldsonville (5-2, 1-2).

Williams hit Savon Landry on a 24-yard touchdown pass to make it 16-13 after Williams hit Johnson for a two-point conversion. Pleasant made it 24-13 with a 21-yard touchdown run and a two-point conversion pass from Williams to Jackson. Williams closed out the first half scoring with a 24-yard touchdown pass to Jackson and Pleasant ran for the two point conversion to make it 32-13 at halftime.

In the third quarter, Williams connected with Acquinus Levy on a 37-yard touchdown pass and Pleasant ran for the two point conversion to make it 40-13 before Williams hit Jackson on a 39-yard touchdown pass and it was 46-13 after a missed two-point conversion attempt.

In the fourth quarter, James Gipson raced 62 yards for a score to make it 54-13 after Williams ran for the two-point conversion. Lusher closed out the scoring on a 29-yard field goal by Reginelli with 3:53 to play in the game.

Broussard finished with 12 rushes for 74 yards while Miles Stewart had 12 rushes for 62 yards for Lusher (3-5, 0-3).

Both teams return to district play next Friday night with Donaldsonville hosting Haynes while Lusher hosts St. James with both games beginning at 7 p.m.