Leps Knocked from the Playoffs by Madisonville
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La Grange captains Shawn Skoruppa (55), Austin Williams (52), Austin Roe (33) and Thai Scott come to midfield for the coin toss. Photo by Jeff Wick -
La Grange’s Le’Kayvion Broussard tries to break free Thursday as Jaiden Scott blocks. Photo by Darrell D. Gest -
La Grange’s Austin Grooms, Devonte McKenzie and Jaiden Scott pursue Madisonville quarterback Ty Williams Thursday. Photo by Jeff Wick -
La Grange senior Nate Scott snags this pass Thursday. Photo by Darrell D. Gest -
Madisonville’s Phillip Green Jr. hurdles over La Grange’s Max Dixon Thursday on his way to a three-touchdown rushing night. Photo by Jeff Wick
La Grange’s football season ended on a rainy night in Bryan Thursday with a 55-7 loss to Madisonville in the first round of the 4A playoffs.
It was the second consecutive season the Mustangs (9-2) had ended the Leps’ postseason in the first round after last year’s 41-21 loss.
“It’s tough, but everybody gave it their all. They are just a really solid football team,” said La Grange junior defensive back Max Dixon, who was on varsity for both playoff losses.
“Hats off to them, they are a good team,” La Grange head coach Kyle Cooper said of Madisonville. “We got some things going and then turned the ball over ... We’ve gotta be able to move the football and limit big plays.”
Thursday’s loss ends Coach Cooper’s first year as Leps head coach with a 3-8 record.
“I’m proud of our kids, I love them, but 3-8 is not the expectation,” Coach Cooper said. “That’s not what anybody in La Grange expects. We will get better. In the offseason we have to decide who wants to be a part of this because we will get better. We have to do the little things right.
“I’m excited about the offseason, we have chances to make big changes, but I’m disappointed with how the season and tonight went.”
The season ended the way it started for the Leps, with 48 point losses to Bellville (11-0) in the opener and Madisonville in the finale. Now those two teams play one another next week in the area round.
Madisonville exerted their will early in this one, using a bruising running attack to jump out to a 35-0 halftime lead and never looked back.
La Grange lost four fumbles Thursday.
The Mustangs rushed for 367 yards and junior Phillip Green Jr. ran for three touchdowns and a game-high 134 yards.
La Grange only managed 20 yards on the ground Thursday.
Leps junior quarterback Clayton Cooper completed 13 of 22 passes for 194 yards and senior quarterback Bennett Barber threw for 32.
Julian Sherman scored the Leps only touchdown on a 23yard pass from Cooper late in the third quarter.
Sherman, a junior, had three catches for a team-high 63 yards. Nate Scott, a senior, had three catches for 60 yards.
Jaylances Johnson recovered a fumble for the Leps.
Nate Scott was one of 11 La Grange seniors playing in their final football game.
“We just couldn’t capitalize on what we were trying to do, couldn’t stop them,” Scott said. “ It’s pretty sad but I tried my hardest and gave it all I had.”
“They will just have to get them next year,” senior defensive back Jahse Scott said.
“Change is hard and it’s hard to buy into a new guy, so I appreciate them and am proud of them and wish them the best,” Coach Cooper said of those seniors. “They laid the foundation for what is coming in the future.”
What does that future hold?
“We have to have a really good offseason, hit the weights hard, get faster and stronger” Dixon said.