DeRidder dominates second half for 56-38 win over Wolves

RAYNE - Following last week’s district win over Leesville, the Wolves were hoping to add another notch to their slate. But, DeRidder had other thoughts.
With a 35-point second half in addition to three Rayne turnovers, the Dragons captured a 56-38 win over the Wolves Friday evening at Wolf Stadium.
“Can’t ask for a better first half as to the scoreboard,” commented Rayne Coach Curt Ware of his team’s effort. “But, you can’t let a team like this slip through tackles and score off of turnovers. They’ll beat you every time, and that’s just what they did in the second half -- beat us.”
The Wolves were the first team to light up the score board on the very first drive of the ballgame as quarterback Donald “T-June” Doucet pithed out to Deontrey Wilridge, who ran it in from the 14-yard line for the score. Ben Alverez split the uprights for a 7-0 Rayne lead, one that was short-lived.
The Dragons answered with a score of their own on their first drive for a tied-up ballgame at 7-all as the first quarter ended.
Big running back Daniel Crosley scored his first of three touchdowns on the evening for a 14-7 DeRidder lead to open the second quarter. He lead all rushing during the game with 242 yards on 14 carries.
“When you have a player like Crosley,” Ware stated of the strong DeRidder running back, “you need a couple regular guys on him. He’s an awesome player and we just couldn’t contain him.”
Rayne’s Wilridge, another running back who enjoyed a good night with 72 yards on 11 carries, scored his second of three touchdowns midway through the second quarter. But, a missed fieldgoal saw DeRidder hold onto a slim 14-13 lead.
DeRidder extended that their lead on another Crosley run for a touchdown. The extra point saw the Dragons hold a 21-13 lead at the two-minute mark of the first half -- that’s all the time the Wolves needed.
Following a good punt return by Cameron Gibson and runs by Trent Winbush and Darien Harmon, Doucet took to the air for a 23-yard touchdown pass to Devonte Robinson. A failed conversion allowed DeRidder to keep a slim lead at 21-19 for the halftime break.
The second half opened a scoring third quarter which included six scores split between the two teams.
The kickoff gave the Wolves an opportunity as a DeRidder fumble saw Rayne gain possession, resulting in a half-field drive and Wilridge’s third touchdown punching it in from a yard out for the score. The conversion came up short and Rayne took a short-lived 25-21 lead.
DeRidder’s Crosley answered as he took a second and six up the middle for a 60-yard touchdown run and a 28-25 Dragon lead.
Midway through the third quarter, Wolf Darien Harmon scored his first of two touchdowns of the evening. The extra point was blocked, but Rayne grabbed the lead once again at 31-28.
But, DeRidder’s Landon Taylor and Camron Clark were able to score three-straight touchdowns, two of which were direct results of two Rayne fumbles, for a 49-31 Dragon lead heading into the final quarter.
Rayne’s Darien Harmon claimed his second touchdown of the night in the bottom of the last quarter, but DeRidder quenched any chance of a Wolf win with another score from Clark for the 56-38 finale.
Harmon finished the game with 77 yards on 14 carries and two touchdowns, followed closely by Wilridge’s 77 yards and three touchdowns.
Completing the Rayne rushing were Trent Winbush with 13 carries for 70 yards, Donald Doucet’s four carries for 49 yards, and Johnny Deculit’s two carries for 28 yards.
Doucet also recorded three completions for 62 yards and one touchdown.
The Rayne defense was led by Nicky Faucheaux with 8 tackles, 4 of those as solos. Tony Gabriel collected 7 tackles, while Cameron Gibson, Christian Comeaux, Carl Davis and Austin Coleman each with 4. Faucheaux, Gibson and Brant Broussard each recorded a tackle for loss yards.
“You hate to be in this kind of game when turnovers decide the game,” stated Ware of the district loss, “But, that was the separation at a crucial time in the ballgame. I just hope we can collect our game and pull out a win next week.
The Wolves will travel to Lake Charles on Friday where they will meet Washington-Marion. Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m.