St. Thomas More routs Helen Cox in second round

LAFAYETTE – It was all No. 1 St. Thomas More as expected Friday night against No. 16 Helen Cox in the second round of the LHSAA Select Division II playoffs. The host Cougars never looked back as they rolled past the visiting Cougars from the New Orleans area, 55-0.

St. Thomas More scored 27 points in the first quarter to quickly take command. Before the home crowd had settled into their seats, junior quarterback Sam Altman connected with Christian McNees on a 24-yard pass less than a minute into the game. Branean Bourque’s extra point made it 7-0.

After a 3-and-out by Helen Cox, Hutch Swilley broke through the line to cap another scoring drive for a 18 yard touchdown. St. Thomas More stopped Cox without a first down again and marched back down the field. John Luke St. Pierre ran it in from 8 yards out to extend the STM lead to 20-0.

The next STM possession ended with a touchdown when Altman hit Mcnees again, this time for a 42 yard touchdown.

A beautiful interception by Helen Cox’s Jeremiah Hall at the 10-yard line thwarted another potential STM score in a night of limited bright spots for the West Bank squad.

With 8:04 left in the half, running back Hutch Swilley got into the scoring column as he burst through the middle with a 10-yard touchdown run. Less than two minutes later, Charlie Payton’s three-yard score expanded the lead to 41-0.

On the 1st play from scrimmage after the STM score, Helen Cox fumbled at their 10 yard line/ Coleman Inzerella corraled the bal for a scoop-and-score that closed out the dominant half for the homestanding Cougars.

Both coaches agreed to a running clock in the second half. With 2:18 to go in the game, Dane Fossier ran for a 10-yard touchdown to cap the scoring.

The challenge awaiting STM next week comes at home in the quarterfinal round from perennial contender Madison Prep of Baton Rouge, dramatic 6-0 overtime winners over St. Louis of Lake Charles.