Leps Explosive in Win Over Gonzales
Matthew Johnson scored touchdowns in three different ways in the first half.
Clay Wolff threw for more touchdowns in the second quarter (three) than some quarterbacks do all season.
And Ryder Imhoff returned a fumble for a touchdown.
Those were some of the big highlights as La Grange rolled over Gonzales 49-25 Friday in Leps first home game in more than month.
The wait was worth it for La Grange fans, as on a chilly, windy night the Leps climbed back into the playoff hunt.
“This feels good,” said La Grange defensive lineman Adrian Ortiz, who had a key fumble recovery in the first half. “We worked really hard for this ... We knew we were going to win this game, maybe not by this much, but we knew.”
The Leps improved to 4-4 overall and 1-2 in district with the win. Gonzales fell to 1-6 overall and 0-3 in district.
For two months La Grange fans have waited for Matthew Johnson to be back at full strength after the University of Tulsa commit had played just portions of three different games amidst injury woes.
Johnson announced his return in a big way, throwing a 24- yard first quarter touchdown to Dane Baker before running for a 40-yard score and catching a 67- yard touchdown pass from Clay Wolff in the second quarter.
“It’s been a long year ... I wasn’t expecting three different touchdowns,” Johnson said, adding that his favorite way to score is via the run.
Johnson also started the game on defense as a safety.
“We’ve been missing it,” said La Grange head coach Matt Kates, of what Johnson brings to the field. “It’s exciting moving forward that he is healthy.”
Meanwhile, Wolff was making just his second start at quarterback for the Leps (following the injuries to Johnson and Caden Cooper) and he looked much more comfortable, completing four of six passes, including three for touchdowns.
In a wild second quarter that saw La Grange outscore Gonzales 28-3, Wolff threw two touchdowns passes of 69 and 46 yards to sophomore Bravion Rogers, before connecting with Johnson on that 67-yarder with just 11 second before halftime.
“Clay has stepped in and done a heck of a job,” Kates said. “He’s smooth ... He still throws it like a baseball, but he throws it well.”
Gonzales actually led this game 6-0 after La Grange fumbled away its opening possession, but the Leps roared back.
Up 36-9 at the break, La Grange’s main focus in the second half was to keep the clock running, but they kept piling up the points.
Lep defensive lineman Jo-seph Mueller smacked a Gonzales ballcarrier early in the third quarter knocking the ball loose and Imhoff scooped it up and returned it 12 yards for a touchdown to extend La Grange’s lead to 42-9.
Leps senior running back D.J. Taylor completed the scoring for La Grange with a twoyard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter. Taylor had a game-high 84 yards rushing for the Leps.
Braden Barfield caught a pair of touchdown passes, but it was not enough for the Apaches. Gonzales switched quarterbacks at halftime, but the Apaches were just 11 of 22 passing combined, while La Grange was six of eight, with more yardage through the air (220 compared to 175).
La Grange now turns its attention to district leading Giddings, which edged Smithville 18-15 Friday. The Leps have been playing the Buffaloes most seasons for over a century, and their rivalry has been listed as one of the 100 best in the state as part of the UIL’s Centennial celebrations this season.
After that battle in Giddings Friday, La Grange hosts Smithville Nov. 6 in the regular season finale, in another historic rivalry that will also shape the playoff race.
“We have to focus on getting another win and getting into the playoffs,” Johnson said.
“Monday we’re going to bring the same energy we had in this game and carry it over into Friday,” Ortiz said.