It is now playoff time in Louisiana, and it is a privilege to be playing around this time of year. The best teams in the state met to see who would advance and the Tigers found themselves amongst that select group this past Friday as they took on the #11 ranked Elton Indians.
Elton has one of the best rushing attacks in Division IV and with the Tigers preferring to run the ball themselves, it shaped up to be a physical game with the clock running quickly and the hits coming often.
In the first half it was a low scoring affair. The Tigers faced a tough battle in the trenches that led to a lot of creativity in the run game as well as an extra layer of the passing game with fresh-man Luke Lasiter behind center.
The defense held their own for the majority of the first quarter yielding only one touchdown to the Indians who had to use all four downs to punch it in from the one. The Tiger offense got it in goal-to-go scenarios more than once, but they were just unable to finish the drive this half.
One of the Tigers’ main offensive weapons – Jessey Stowe – was out with an injury, along with a couple other starts on the defense out with injuries, making an already challenging task increasingly difficult. It was more of the same in the second quarter, as the Tiger defense would allow short yardage bursts all quarter but on the second drive the talented Indian running back broke a long run to make it 12-0 going into halftime.
The second half featured all the action of this game. To start the half, the Indians threw a pass (they hardly throw the ball averaging around one pass per game) and to everyone’s shock it was a deep ball that resulted in a long touchdown and a successful two-point conversion.
Just when things seemed out of reach and it was time to throw in the towel, the Tigers fought back. Lasiter started to find his targets and get in rhythm, and the Tigers hit paydirt inside the 10 on a 6-yard corner of the endzone throw to Tuff Street to bring it to 20-6.
The Indians answered right back unfortunately with another long run again and made it 28-6. But the ever-resilient Tigers went through the air for their response and Lasiter found Alex Richmond on a crossing route, 20-yard score to steal the momentum back to make it 28-14. The Indians responded again with another touchdown run however and that would be the last score of the game and the season ended in Elton with a score of 36-14.
This season was a great and successful turnaround season for the Tigers. With much of the team being underclassmen, a possible new district and glimpse into a new passing attack to compliment the run game, there is plenty to be excited about regarding the future of La-Salle Tiger Football in Olla.
As with any year, the most painful part is saying so long to the seniors who helped everything be what it was this season. To the football players: Jessey Stowe, Tuff Street, Braedan Cummings, Aidan Billingsley, Cash Barton, Landon Callender, Caiden Finley and Caleb Fowler; dance member Carlie Aycock; the cheer team members: Lexi Jo Lasiter, Harlee Nowlin, Heavenly Callender, Kinley Morris and Cammie Estis; and the band: Ashton Cockerham, you played that tuba well – thank you!
It’s kids like you that make this parish proud and it certainly has been fun to see you display your God-given talents for the community. Until next season, go Tigers!
