Cuero Too Much for Leps in District Opener
Hosting the state ranked Cuero Gobblers was challenge enough for the La Grange football team.
But doing so with their biggest superstar sidelined after the first offensive play?
That proved to be too tall an order for the Leps as they lost 56-21 to No. 9-ranked Cuero in the district opener for both teams.
La Grange’s Bravion Rogers (who had scored five touchdowns the game before against Lago Vista) was hit hard on his first carry of the game, fumbled and suffered a possible concussion and never returned Friday.
As the D-I prospect (who starts on offensive, defense and special teams for the Leps) watched from the sidelines, Cuero built a 28-0 lead.
“He’s one of our number one players and we feel better with him on the field, but at the same time, we just have to step up and get it done,” said La Grange defensive tackle Jaron Woods. “This could have been way better, if we had played from the start like we did in the second half. We could have gone head to head with them.”
La Grange did rally after halftime to cut the lead to 42-21, but never got any closer after a pair of turnovers on consecutive possessions midway through the third quarter ended any hopes of a comeback.
“With Bravion going out a lot of our offense went away really quick, but we still scored 21 points,” said La Grange head coach Matt Kates. “We were our own worst enemy with turnovers and pre-snap penalties. You have self-inflicted stuff like that against a good football team and this is the result you get.”
The Leps fell to 3-3 overall and 0-1 in district and face always tough Navasota this Friday back at Leopard Stadium.
Cuero meanwhile improved to 5-1 overall and looks every bit capable of making a very deep playoff run.
Kates said Cuero was the best team the Leps had played so far this season “by far.”
Short in stature, but with a big left arm, Cuero quarterback Jerry Rossett threw for 236 yards, and Tycen Williams ran for three touchdowns for the Gobblers.
“Being able to throw it like they throw it and run it like they run it, they are going to be tough to beat,” Kates said.
La Grange sophomore Jaden Williams led the team in rushing Friday with 78 yards, most of that coming on a 56-yard third quarter touchdown keeper. He split time at quarterback with senior Clay Wolff.
It was the first varsity rushing touchdown of his career.
“I’m mainly on defense but every now and them I get some carries on the offensive side and it’s fun,” Williams said.
La Grange senior Ryder Im-hoff had 17 carries for 78 yards, including an 11-yard touchdown in the second quarter.
Wolff was five of six passing Friday and connected with C.J. Davis for a 55-yard touchdown pass.
But those three Leps touchdowns were not enough to overcome a Gobblers team that has scored bunches of points against almost everyone they’ve played this season.
“We knew they were going to be good,” Williams said. “But we have the guys to cover their guys. I don’t think we did that bad of a job, they are just a really good football team.”
Friday’s loss makes this week’s game against Navasota all the more crucial for the Leps. The Rattlers will come to La Grange looking for some momentum themselves after falling to Smithville 50-28 last week. The Rattlers have just a 2-4 record but have played a very tough schedule.
“We know every week in this district is going to be a battle,” Kates said. “We’ll go respond.”