A lack of focus in practice during the week led to a handful of mistakes that cost Westgate a chance to beat former district rival Sulphur in a Class 5A football game Friday at Lloyd G. Porter Memorial Stadium.

Sulphur (4-1), ranked fifth in the latest Class 5A poll, ripped off big chunks of yardage on option plays in the first half in jumping out to a 21-7 lead, then returned an interception 85 yards for a third-quarter touchdown to beat the Tigers 28-14.

The Tigers turned the ball over five times, including four interceptions, helping the Golden Tornados either turn back Westgate offensive threats or set up points.

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"Turnovers were definitely the difference in the game," said WHS coach Brian Fine. "We've got to have better practices during the week. Our focus isn't always what it has to be during practice and that carries over to Friday."

Westgate (2-3) limited the Tors to 54 second-half yards, but three second-half interceptions and a lost fumble nullified any chances the Tigers had to come back.

"We made a few adjustments at halftime," said Fine. "We played a lot better for four quarters than we did last week."

"We didn't execute as well (in the second half), but they also got more aggressive," said Sulphur coach Paul Bourgeois. "We you get up 21 on them, it makes a defense have the attitude, 'We don't have anything to lose.'"

Quarterback Deon Anthony threw two touchdowns, a 49-yarder to Lellande Davis and a 48-yarder to Justin Williams, to account for Westgate's points.

"I think when you play a Westgate, if you don't have some breaks you're going to be in trouble," said Bourgeois. "They just have so many weapons and can score so fast."

Sulphur started off fast, getting runs of 22 and 14 yards from quarterback Coby Miller and 21 yards from tailback Jermaine Williams on the Tors' first possession to set up a three-yard TD run by Williams. Tanner Kratzer kicked the point-after to make it 7-0 with 7:27 left in the first period. Miller's 22-yard run on third and 11 kept the drive going early.

"We got caught off guard early with the option play," said Fine. "We had them third and long, and the quarterback draw kept them alive."

Williams scored on a 55-yard run on Sulphur's next possession to help the Tors go up 14-0 with 4:38 left in the period. Williams rushed for 92 first-half yards, but finished with 89 on the game after losing a net three yards on three second-half carries.

Anthony, who was hobbled with a leg injury suffered in last week's loss to No. 4 St. Thomas More, hooked up with Davis on a beautifully designed pass play on Westgate's ensuing possession. Anthony was second on the team in rushing yards coming into the game but was did have any designed run plays Friday.

"Deon was a little hobbled," said Fine. "When he's not a threat to run it makes it more difficult."

The Tigers had successfully used a couple of quick pitches to tailback Willie Ware in the first few plays of the drive, and on a second down from the Sulphur 49-yard line, Anthony faked a pitch to Ware, then threw deep for Davis, who got behind a couple of defenders on a post pattern. Davis had to slow down for a moment to catch the pass, but was still far enough behind the defense to score easily. The point-after by Siegan Vergenal made it a 14-7 game.

A 33-yard punt return by safety Zach Albin set up Sulphur's next touchdown in the second quarter. The Tors needed only two plays to punch it in from the Westgate 12, with Miller faking a dive to fullback Colt Fisher, then keeping to the outside for the 11-yard TD run at the 8:03 mark. The PAT made it 21-7.

Westgate had a chance to get back in the game following a shanked 18-yard punt in the third quarter that gave the Tigers possession at their 36. A 13-yard pass to Williams and a 32-yard run up the middle by Ware got the ball to the Sulphur 19, but Anthony's pass on first down from there bounced off Davis' hands and into the arms of defensive back Nick Tramonte at the 15.

Tramonte raced up the Westgate sideline 85 yards for the clinching touchdown. Tramonte had two of Sulphur's four interceptions, with Albin and Phillip Ivey nabbing one each.

"I think a lot of things fell (Tramonte's) way," said Bourgeois. "The interception return all the way is something he will remember for a long time. It ended up being a big play for us."

Ware set up Westgate's next touchdown with a 21-yard run on the ensuing WHS possession. Two plays later, Anthony was flushed from the pocket, scrambled right and threw the ball as far downfield as he could, finding Williams open behind a pair of defensive backs for a 48-yard scoring play. The PAT made it 28-14 with 2:07 left in the third quarter.

Westgate plays host to New Iberia next week to open the District 4-5A schedule.