Leps Dominate Caldwell to Even District Record at 1-1

Five different Leps scored touchdowns Friday as La Grange pounded visiting Caldwell Friday 44-10.

Caldwell came into this game looking for its first win of the season, but the Leps were in no mood to be kind after losing to Smithville in a heartbreaker the week before. “This was great,” said La Grange senior lineman Hayden Splawn. “This was exactly what our team needed. We were looking for a confidence boost and we got it. There was a sense of urgency this week – we knew we had a mission tonight and we got there.” La Grange improved to 3-4 overall and 1-1 in district with the win. “We’re this close to being 2-0, but you have to turn the page and that loss to Smithville was a hard one to turn the page on,” La Grange head coach Matt Kates said. “But these kids had a good week of practice and focused up.

“Caldwell is young and they are going to be a good football team. They are a good football team already in some spots. The three guys they were getting the ball to most were freshmen and sophomores. It’s good to get a win against those guys while they are young.”

The Hornets actually came out strong in this game as sophomore quarterback Boone Turner took the game’s first play from scrimmage 75 yards for a touchdown.

La Grange responded with a drive composed of four C.J. Davis runs, which culminated with a 11-yard scoring rush by Davis.

Caldwell used a 66-yard run from freshman Korbin Burns to set up a field goal and they led again 10-7.

“We were able to buckle down defensively after those two big plays and made some adjustments,” Kates said.

The Leps again answered quickly to retake a 14-10 lead, this time on a 70-yard touchdown from junior Jaden Williams, who had a team-high 159 yards rushing in the game.

In all La Grange ran for 374 yards and had 508 total yards of offense compared to 304 for Caldwell. Williams’ touchdown with 8:58 left in the first quarter gave the Leps a lead they would never lose.

Phillip Arceneaux, who was booming kick-offs into the endzone all night for the Leps, added a 34-yard field goal. That had been set up by a Max Dixon See

Photo by Jeff Wick