Wildcats Fall to Huntingdon with Late Game Dramatics

9/3/2016 8:39:00 PM

By: LC Sports Information

Box Score
If you would have told any member of the Louisiana College coaching staff before the game, against #24 ranked Huntingdon, that they would have multiple opportunities to win the game in the final minutes they would have felt great about their prospects to win. Unfortunately for the Wildcats, an interception would end their chances at pulling off the upset on the opening Saturday of the 2016 college football season.

With less than two minutes to go in the fourth quarter senior quarterback Easton Melancon connected with Lawrence Williams on a 13-yard slant pass to pull the Wildcats within three of the visiting Hawks 52-49. On the ensuing kickoff Charles Firmin got the perfect bounce on the onside kick and recovered by Ryan DeMattie, to give the ball back to the home team.

Melancon completed a 12-yard pass to Shedrick Davis to move the ball into Huntingdon territory. Two plays later though the Hawks middle linebacker would step in front of a pass an take it the other way to essentially seal the victory for the road team.

In typical Louisiana College football fashion the game was a shootout from the very beginning with both teams trading scores throughout the entire game. Aurren Cooksey scored the first touchdown of the game to tie the game at seven on a 1-yard power run straight ahead.

The second quarter belonged to the Hawks as they racked up 28 points and held a 35-21 lead at halftime. The Wildcats pulled closer in third after Melancon found Zac Barrient and Shedrick Davis for 26 and 24-yard touchdowns each, setting up an exciting fourth quarter comeback that fell just short.

Melancon threw for 431 yards and five touchdowns in the game, his yardage moved him into second place all-time in school history for passing yards in a career. Aurren Cooksey led the rushing attack with 189 yards on 21 carries and two scores and Shedrick Davis led the receivers with 10 catches for 148 yards and two touchdowns.

Wildcats Head Coach Dennis Dunn said after the game, "We took a nationally ranked team to the wire and had a chance to win it at the end. This is a different team. This team has a chance to be very special. We'll take 24 hours and then put it behind us and move forward. We believe, and today showed the character and fight in our guys. It was truly an amazing effort. It will serve us well this season. So proud of our men and how they performed."

The Wildcats will take to the road next week for their first away game of the year as they take on Texas College (0-1) in Tyler, TX. Next time LC will be at home will be in two weeks as they host Texas Lutheran with a 6 p.m. start time at Wildcat Field.

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