Leps Fall to Cuero 38-27
La Grange’s top two quarterbacks watched the second half on crutches as Cuero prevailed 38-27 in the district opener for both teams Friday.
Injuries were the story of the night for the Leps who saw quarterbacks Caden Cooper and Matthew Johnson suffer injuries as La Grange’s three-game win streak was snapped.
“Men are created through adversity like this,” said La Grange head coach Matt Kates. “Cuero had a lot of weapons on the outside and they are big up front. We knew it was going to be a challenge but full strength we liked our chances.”
By contrast, Cuero’s passing game thrived led by little lefty Jerry Rossett and the Gobblers outgained the Leps in passing yardage 258 to 32.
“They threw it really well tonight, as well as they have all year,” Kates said of Cuero.
La Grange threw a pair of interceptions and lost a costly fumble at their one yard line. Cuero didn’t turn the ball over at all Friday.
Despite all the problems, La Grange stayed close most of the night, led by the efforts of D.J. Taylor, who ran for three touchdowns and 184 yards.
Still it was not enough as La Grange fell to 3-3 overall and 0-1 in district and now must travel to Navasota Friday to play a Rattlers team that downed Smithville 23-20 Friday.
“We just have to have guys step up. It’s hard when leaders aren’t on the field. It throws things off,” said La Grange senior defensive end Grant Juno.
The quarterbacks weren’t the only missing ingredient Friday for the Leps. Leading tackler and inside linebacker Adam Faske was also out with an injury.
La Grange got behind 14-0 in the first quarter but rallied back thanks to a 54-yard touchdown run by Taylor and then a trick play that cut the Cuero lead to just 21-14 going into halftime. With just 1:27 remaining in the second quarter Taylor took a handoff from Cooper, but he then handed off the ball to wide receiver Bravion Rogers on a reverse. Then Rogers passed the ball to a wide-open Cooper who ran it in for a 15-yard touchdown reception.
With Cooper and Johnson sidelined in the second half, Clay Wolff took over the quarterback duties, and Taylor ran for touchdowns of 62 yards and 49 yards, but it was not enough.
“We have a lot of seniors hurting right now, they are hurting a whole lot,” said La Grange defensive lineman Philip Matocha. “We’re going to fix some things in practice and see who is going to step up and we’ll bounce back for Navasota next week.”
Cuero 38, La Grange 27
Score by quarters
Scoring summary
FIRST QUARTER
CUERO – 6:58, Exavier Durham 62 pass from Jerry Rossett (Beau Fournet kick)
CUERO – 3:50, Breck Eleby 4 run (Fournet kick)
LA GRANGE – 2:00, D.J. Taylor 54 run (Jackson Bundick kick)
SECOND QUARTER
CUERO – 11:39, Jackson Hardwick 1 run (Fournet kick)
LA GRANGE – 1:27, Caden Cooper 15 pass from Bravion Rogers (Bundick kick)
THIRD QUARTER
CUERO – 8:58, Eleby 15 pass from Rossett (Fournet kick)
LA GRANGE – 8:07 Taylor 62 run (kick failed)
CUERO – 1:53, Fournet 30 yard fi eld goal
FOURTH QUARTER
CUERO – 10:20, Hardwick 5 run (Fournet kick)
LA GRANGE – Taylor 49 run (Bundick kick)
INDIVIDUAL STATS
Rushing – La Grange: D.J. Taylor 16- 184, Trey East 3-59, Caden Cooper 3-12, Matthew Johnson 3-11, Bravion Rogers 1-11, Jakobe Wilkerson 1-(-2), Team 1-(-2); Cuero: Jackson Hardwick 14-79, Breck Eleby 15-69, JD Notaro 3-17, Exavier Durham 1-7, Justice Belvin 1-5, Jerry Rossett 4-2, Davyon Williams 1-(-2).
Passing – La Grange: Cooper 1 of 7 for 1 yard with 1 INT; Bravion Rogers 1 of 1 for 15 yards and 1 TD, Clay Wolff 1 of 4 for 16 yards with 1 INT; Cuero: Rossett 15 of 26 for 258 yards with 2 TDs.
Receiving – La Grange: Cooper 1-15, Rogers 2-17; Cuero: Durham 6-138, Eleby 5-81.
District 13-4A Football
Friday’s scores:
Cuero 38, La Grange 27
Giddings 47, Gonzales 31
Navasota 23, Smithville 20
This week’s games:
La Grange at Navasota
Cuero at Giddings
Smithville at Gonzales