Sheppard, Mandeville runs over Slidell, 42-7

SLIDELL – When Slidell and Mandeville faced off Friday night at L.V. McGinty Stadium in a district matchup, the home-standing Tigers were looking to end a losing streak.

The Skippers had no interest in that plan.

In a dominant effort featuring junior running back Nate Sheppard’s four first-half touchdown runs, Mandeville rolled to a 42-7 victory.

The Skippers took the ball first and imposed their will early on the Tigers with Sheppard’s one-yard touchdown giving Mandeville the early 7-0 lead.

Slidell’s first possession was anything but pretty. A three-and-out including a fumble that the Tigers recovered cemented the tone of the opening half.

Sheppard broke free for a 31-yard score on the next Mandeville possession to make it 14-0 with a little over six minutes to go in the first quarter.

After another three and out for the Tigers, Sheppard dazzled with a 75-yard touchdown jaunt to put the Skippers up 21-0.

Slidell quarterback Corey Cousin gave the home team some life with 23-yard run but the drive later died with a lost fumble.

Mandeville (3-2, 1-1) added to their lead in the second quarter with the passing game. Caden Jacob hit Donovan McGowan for a 25-yard touchdown with 10:35 to go before the half.

Another fumble fell into Mandeville’s hands, and Sheppard was soon back in the end zone. His 14-yard run extended the Skippers’ lead to 35-0.

“He’s a special player,” Mandeville head coach Craig Jones said. “This is the fifth week in a row we’ve started a different five on the offensive line, and we haven’t had as much consistency there. And we’ve had some injuries. But I thought they did a very good job tonight giving him running lanes. When he hits that second level, that’s good news for us.

Sheppard finished with 15 carries for 184 yards and four touchdowns despite not playing the entire night with his team ahead comfortably.

The Mandeville defense had four takeaways tonight with three fumble recoveries and one interception.

“I love the way we fly to the ball,” Jones said. “I think we tackled much better this week and we were much more opportunistic.”

The Skippers finished the one-sided half with a second Jacob to McGowan scoring connection, this one covering 10 yards, and it was 42-0.

Cousin’s 38-yard run for a touchdown allowed Slidell (1-4, 0-2) to avoid the shutout in a second half played with a running clock. Cousin rushed nine times for 114 yards and a score.