Box Score
In a game that saw just about everything – including a lightning delay for more than an hour – the Louisiana College Wildcats overcame another shaky first half to defeat East Texas Baptist 31-24 in the annual Battle for the Border Claw at Wildcat Stadium.
Behind freshman quarterback Trevor Spear, who was making his first collegiate start, the Tigers jumped out to a quick 14-0 lead. Spear connected with Jamaine Sherman for a 65-yard touchdown pass on ETBU's first offensive play of the game, then, on the Tigers' next possession, Spear capped a 12-play, 92-yard drive with a touchdown run from the one.
The Wildcats, who struggled again on offense in the first half, finally got on the board early in the second quarter when freshman quarterback Easton Melancon hit Ladarius Gardner with a 16-yard touchdown pass to cut ETBU's lead to 14-7.
LC's defense, keyed by 11 first-half tackles from senior linebacker Dominic Graham, held Spear and the ETBU offense in check until the final play of the half. That's when Spear connected with DJ Williams for a 33-yard touchdown "Hail Mary" pass as the clock struck zero – ETBU took the lead and the momentum into half, 21-7.
"We said, 'this has got to stop – we need to fix this,'" senior linebacker Daniel Hebert said. "We said, 'we can't fight each other – we need to fight them. We need to come together,' and that's exactly what we did in the second half."
Despite giving up 411 yards to ETBU for the game, the Wildcats limited the Tigers to just three points in the final two quarters – a field goal by Cory McNeil midway through the third quarter.
In the meantime, the LC offense finally got into a rhythm – keyed by senior running back Ryan Montague. On the Wildcats' first offensive series of the third quarter, Montague rushed for 43 yards to help set up fellow senior running back Reggie Sims' 7-yard touchdown run with 12:16 to cut the ETBU lead to 21-14.
Following McNeil's field goal, the Wildcats got another strong push from Montague. An 8-play, 55-yard drive was capped by Montague's 14-yard touchdown run – the 28th of his LC career – breaking the previous career rushing touchdown mark set by Wayne Davis. That score had the Wildcats within three, 24-21. Montague would finish the game with 161 yards on 28 carries.
"To get that record with the win, that made me feel better," Montague said. "I couldn't have done it without my team."
The end of the third quarter and start of the fourth saw two key defensive stands for the Wildcats. The first was an ETBU drive that ended at the LC 14 when McNeil missed a 31-yard field goal attempt. The next stop came after a Melancon pass was tipped and intercepted by the Tigers' Drew Benge at the LC 29. But, two key ETBU penalties and the inability to pick up a first down saw the Tigers have to punt to end that opportunity.
As the fourth quarter began, LC would take its first lead of the game with an impressive 13-play, 83-yard drive. LC coach Dennis Dunn, who began the game by coaching from the press box, returned to the sideline to call one of his patented trick plays. With sophomore cornerback Richard Jefferson taking a direct snap from the "Wildcat" formation, Jefferson pitched to running back Percy Johnson who then flipped the ball to Melancon – Melancon then finding an open Kyle Galyon in the end zone for the 19-yard score to give LC its first lead at 28-24.
"The middle of the field was open all game," Galyon said. "When I turned around, I saw Easton kind of fumbling it because it was wet, but once he got a grip on it and let it go, I knew it was going to be a touchdown."
Following another LC defensive stand, the Wildcats sealed the game when Adan Olivares connected for a 27-yard field goal to increase LC's lead to 31-24 with 1:22 left in the game.
Any thoughts the Tigers had of stealing a win came to an end with successive sacks of Spear by Preston Thibeaux and Daniel Hebert. On 4th and 23, Spear's final pass fell into the arms of junior safety Shaquille O'Neal who returned it 33 yards to the ETBU seven.
With .2 left on the clock, Melancon took the final snap from the victory formation to give the Wildcats the 31-24 win and the right to maintain possession of "The Border Claw" – the trophy that symbolizes the rivalry between the two schools.
For the game, Melancon finished 17-of-33 for 224 yards and two touchdowns. Galyon remained Melancon's favorite target with five catches for 86 yards. Cole Crook added five catches for 63 yards.
Spear was 13-of-25 for 230 yards and two TDs for ETBU. Spear was also ETBU's second-leading rusher with 24 yards on 17 carries. Toi Glover led the Tigers with 153 yards on 32 carries. Sherman was ETBU's leading receiver with 110 yards on four catches.
With the win, the Wildcats improve to 4-1 on the season, 2-0 in the American Southwest Conference. ETBU feel to 2-3/0-1. LC's next game will be their toughest to date as the Wildcats travel to Belton, Texas to face Mary Hardin-Baylor Saturday, Oct. 19 at 1 p.m. The Cru, who are 5-0 and ranked No. 3 in the latest D3Football.com poll, had a bye this week. LC has never beaten UMHB since its return to college football in 2000.
"We're not worrying about the name, it's just another game," Galyon said. "We plan to work on us, and work on our game."
