Big defensive plays

ST. MARTINVILLE -- Westgate High has always been known for its ability to strike from anywhere on the field offensively, but Friday night against St. Martinville, it was the WHS defense that came up with consecutive plays on third and fourth downs to seal a 26-19 win over a very tough SMSH squad.

In the final period, with St. Martinville driving for the potential game-tying or game-winning touchdown, Westgate’s David Youman blitzed on consecutive plays, sacking SMSH quarterback Jules Tripeaux on third down and bringing so much pressure on fourth down that he caused Tripeaux to dump off a pass to a running back that fell far short of a first down. That helped Westgate, which hadn’t played a game in three weeks, beat SMSH for its first win of the year.

“Coach just told us at practice to give it our all,” said Youman, who had two sacks and applied constant pressure to Tripeaux. “After we took a loss in the jamboree, he said come back hard and fight.

“I just gave it my all. That was the plan, to go all out.”

Youman’s defensive heroics were just enough to stop St. Martinville, which trailed 26-19 late in the fourth quarter but was moving the ball against Westgate and trying to get into position to steal the game at the end.

“I’m really proud of my guys. We played hard,” said SMSH coach Marc Broussard. “Throughout the game, when things got tough, players believed in themselves and their teammates and they were going to try to find a way to win.”

But in the end it was Westgate that found the way to win, even after not playing a game since a loss to New Iberia Senior High in the Iberia Parish Sugar Cane Jamboree back on Aug. 29.

“We finally got to play and it’s good to get a victory,” said WSH coach Brian Fine, who said Youman played a major role in the win. “I thought that David had a helluva night. He played extremely well and had some big stops for us.

“I’m anxious to see the film (of the game). We had some struggles early on but we came up with stops when we had to have them and that was the key.

No stop was bigger than the last one of the game after Youman and the rest of the Westgate defense finally found a way to curtail a SMSH offensive attack that produced 304 yards rushing and added almost 100 more through the air in scoring 19 points.

“I knew that we had to switch up the defense because they were a good running team,” said Youman. “I put it in my mind to be in position to make tackles.

“I was tired, I was cramping up but I told coach that I could make the play and I read the play right. It feels great to come out and get the win tonight.”

St. Martinville made Westgate earn the win.

After missing the first two weeks of the season with games against Breaux Bridge and Evangel canceled because of hurricanes, the Tigers came out clicking on offense and scored touchdowns on their first two possessions.

“My hat’s off to Westgate. For not playing in week one and week two, they came out here and executed on offense really well,” said Broussard.

“With Deon Anthony, Westgate can come out and score 40 in the first half, 40 in the second half. I was impressed with the way they came out and executed with not having game situations the last two weeks.”

Anthony led Westgate’s first two scoring drives that ended with an 11-yard touchdown pass to Tyler Delahoussaye and a three-yard TD run from Willie Ware, both in the first quarter.

Anthony finished the night 9-for-12 for 161 passing yards and three touchdowns.

“Early on, when they caught us with those two scores, our guys got away from what we teach during the week and we pulled them aside, settled them down and told them to do what we teach them to do,” said Broussard.

St. Martinville’s Brandon Jacob, who rushed for 125 yards on eight carries, had a 60-yard touchdown run in the first quarter that ended with Westgate leading 14-7.

The visiting Tigers made it 20-7 in the second as Anthony connected with Ben Hall, but Siegen Vergenal’s point after was blocked. SMSH made it 20-13 as Tripeaux hit Bryson Mallery on a 56-yard catch-and-run for a score.

St. Martinville cut the lead to 20-19 in the fourth on Tripeaux’s second touchdown pass of the night, an eight-yarder to Diedren Francis. Westgate came right back and made it 26-19 on Anthony’s third touchdown pass, a 42-yard strike to Richard Mouret. Vergenal’s point after was blocked again, which set up SMSH’s final drive for the tie or the win.

“They came with some blitzes that we didn’t pick up,” said Broussard. “We need to do some things up front to solidify Jules’ chance to throw the ball. I have confidence that he can throw and our receivers can catch.”

Both coaches found some good in a game that tested each team.

“We got off to a sharp start and lost rhythm in the second and third quarters,” said Fine. “But we got back in sync in the fourth. I think this can set the tone for us. With the inexperience we have it’s going to take us a while to grow up and mature some and really learn to play football at this level.”

“I told them to keep their heads up,” said Broussard. “We’ve come a long way and we still have a long way to go. We’re competitive and we’re going to come back to work and start district next week against Northside.”