REPLAY: Southside scores early, often to run away from Lafayette

Two teams with the same records battling for a possible playoff spot hooked up in District 3-5A Thursday night in a game that figured to evenly matched.

That figuring part proved to be drastically wrong.

Southside unleased a tremendous passing exhibition as the Sharks blasted Lafayette High 63-35 at Teurlings Catholic in the LHSAA Game of the Week seen live at CrescentCitySports.com.

Junior Dillion Monette put on a phenomenal show.

In the first half, Monette completed 10-of-12 passes for 305 yards and six touchdowns, including four to Jack Pruitt. He would throw just one pass in the second half as Southside ran the ball and ran the clock.

The carnage started immediately.

After failed on an onside kick attempt to start the game, Southside struck immediately on its first play from scrimmage as Monette hit Rhett Peloquin on a 40-yard touchdown pass to give the Sharks a 7-0 lead just 12 seconds into the game.

Derezz Landry fumbled on Lafayette’s next possession and Jonah Harris recovered for Southside at the Mighty Lion 18-yard line. Two plays later, Monette hit tight end Connor Venetis on a 14-yard touchdown pass and it was 14-0 with 10:59 to play in the half.

Later in the quarter, Southside drove 62 yards in five plays with Monette finding Pruitt on a 34-yard touchdown and it was 21-0 with 2:22 to play in the quarter.

Monette and Pruitt finished off the opening quarter with a 50-yard touchdown connection to make it 28-0.

Lafayette finally got it going early in the second quarter, driving 77 yards in nine plays with Landry scoring on a 1-yard run to make it 28-7 with 9:57 to play in the half.

The Sharks responded with a fury, scoring three unanswered touchdowns to end the half.

First, Monette hit Pruitt on a 71-yard scoring toss to make it 35-7 with 9:07 to play in the half. The same two connected again for a score, this time from six yards out and it was 42-7 with 3:43 to play in the half and the final score came on a 1-yard run by Cedric McDonald to cap a six play, 55-yard drive and it was 49-7 with 17 seconds left in the half.

Lafayette did not quit, competing well in the second half though it was much too little, too late. After a bad snap on a punt attempt, Lafayette recovered at the Southside 9-yard line and Oliver Craddock scored on a 9-yard run to make it 49-14 with 5:18 to play in the third quarter.

Southside responded with an eight play, 52-yard drive with McDonald scoring on a 1-yard run and it was 56-14 with 39 seconds to play in the third quarter.

In the fourth quarter, the Mighty Lions then drove 70 yards in eight plays with Xan Saunier scoring on a 1-yard run and it was 56-21 with 10:08 to play in the game.

McDonald answered with a 46-yard touchdown run and it was 63-21 with 9:21 to play.

Lafayette finished off the scoring with a pair of late touchdowns on a 1-yard run by Craddock and a 75-yard run by Saunier.

McDonald finished with 19 carries for 124 yards and three touchdowns. Pruitt had four catches for 161 yards and four touchdowns. Saunier rushed 16 times for 166 yards and two touchdowns and completed 17-of-32 passes for 193 yards. Logan Spears had five catches for 71 yards.

Sharks coach Josh Fontenot was obviously happy with his team’s performance.

“I’m very proud of the way we played the whole game,” Fontenot said. “I wish we had played a little better in the second half, but they kept coming at us and they did good. They did a good job of scoring some points when they needed to. We’re 5-3 now, not bad. I thought we played sharp. I can’t complain.”

Both teams return to district play next Friday night with Southside (5-3, 2-3) traveling to Comeaux while Lafayette (4-4, 1-4) hosting Sam Houston.

FINAL
Southside 28 21 7 7 63
Lafayette 0 7 7 21 35