Taylor Runs for 4 TDs as Leps Down Lago Vista 42-26
The La Grange high school football team went on a road trip to Lago Vista high school Friday night and came home with a 42- 26 victory.
Senior running back D.J. Taylor accumulated over 250 yards rushing and found the end zone four times.
“I just had to continue to battle,” Taylor said. “Give credit to my O-line up front. They did their job. Overall, it was a good night.”
The Leopards entered halftime with a 29-7 lead, then Lago Vista scored two unanswered touchdowns to make it a 29- 19 contest until an impressive 4th quarter came about for La Grange with a fumble recovery and two more of Taylor’s four touchdowns.
“It was just one of those crazy games”, said La Grange head football coach Matt Kates. “We kind of sputtered in the third quarter. They responded. We got to give them credit for that. We were able to refocus. We want to be the most physical team every Friday night. Those are the kind of drives you got to have in the fourth quarter.”
Senior Caden Cooper started the game at quarterback and University of Tulsa commit Matthew Johnson started at slot receiver, in his first action since the season opener because of an injury. Both Cooper and Johnson switched in and out at the quarterback during the game.
Running the ball effectively from their very first drive, the Leopards scored their opening touchdown on a reverse pitch play. Sophomore Jonathan Rogers received the pitch in the backfield before rolling out and throwing a perfect pass over the shoulder to sophomore Jakobe Wilkerson for a 25-yard score. Seconds later, the Vikings answered with a 65-yard touchdown pass from senior quarterback Adrian Hernandez to junior wide-receiver Braden Smith to tie the game at 7-7.
After Taylor’s first rushing score of the night, La Grange re covered a pooch kick that led to a 41-yard touchdown pass from Johnson to Rogers and a 22-7 advantage. At the 5:44 mark in the second quarter, Lago Vista went for it on 4th and 11 from the La Grange 24-yard line and was stopped by the Leopard defense. The following offensive drive was when Taylor grabbed his second touchdown of the night on a 20-yard run that put the board at 29-7.
Lago Vista came out hot in the second half, scoring on the first possession with a 35-yard touchdown pass from Hernandez to senior wide-receiver Jordan Tait. A blocked extra point made it 29-13. The Vikings kept the pressure on La Grange and moved the ball up field on the ground. They decided to go in the Wildcat formation within the Leopards 15-yard line and eventually barreled in the end zone with a keeper from senior running back Layne Powers. After a failed two-point conversion, Lago Vista recovered an onside kick at midfield, but was then forced to punt.
With 6:40 left in the game, La Grange snagged a loose ball of their own with a fumble recovery on the Vikings 42-yard line. On the very next play, Taylor took another one to the house for his third touchdown.
Less than two minutes later, he added his fourth and final touchdown on back-to-back 40+ yard scoring runs. Lago Vista responded with a 42-yard touchdown pass from Hernandez to senior wide-receiver Hunter Phillips, but it wasn’t enough as La Grange ran out the clock and crashed the Vikings homecoming night to secure a 42-26 road win.
The Leopards are now 3-2 on the season and have next week off before travelling to face a 2-3 Cuero team Friday Oct. 9 in the district opener for both teams.
La Grange Stats
D.J. Taylor- 28 carries, 262 yards and 4 TDs
Caden Cooper- 8 carries, 62 rushing yards. 1/3 completions, 25 passing yards.
Matthew Johnson- 11 carries, 43 rushing yards. 1/3 completions, 41 passing yards and 1 passing TD.
Jonathan Rogers- 1/1 completion, 25 passing yards and 1 passing TD. 1 reception for 41 yards and a receiving TD.
Jakobe Wilkerson- 1 carry for 3 rushing yards. 1 reception for 25 yards and 1 receiving TD.
Lago Vista Stats
Adrian Hernandez- 5 carries, 19 rushing yards. 4/7 completions for 171 passing yards and 3 TDs.
Logan Parsons- 7 carries, 58 rushing yards.
Layne Powers- 5 carries, 48 rushing yards and 1 rushing TD.
Hunter Phillips- 1 reception, 42 receiving yards and 1 receiving TD.
Braden Smith- 1 reception, 65 receiving yards and 1 receiving TD.
Jordan Tait- 3 receptions, 72 receiving yards and 1 receiving TD.
Marquise Pierce- 1 reception for 21 receiving yards.
District 13-4A Standings
La Grange 3-2
Giddings 3-2
Navasota 2-2
Smithville 2-3
Cuero 2-3
Gonzales 1-4
Friday’s other district scores:
Columbus 38, Smithville 7
Navarro 21 Giddings 17
Gonzales 67, Jarrell 22
Cuero 28, Uvalde 0
Navasota vs. Yoakum (cancelled)
*All teams are off this week