Wolves run by Leesville for 20-14 district win

LEESVILLE - Rayne High has taken their knocks this season with some heartbreakers, but Friday was their turn to give one of their own with a 20-14 district win over the Leesville Wampus Cats.
“Our guys played with intensity tonight,” stated Rayne High Head Coach Curt Ware following the Rayne win. “We came out here tonight with a different attitude and a will to win. It’s what we needed at this point.”
Following three close losses earlier in the season, and last week’s big loss with six starters out, Rayne really needed a win at this point.
“I told our guys early on, we will get better as the season progresses,” Ware continued. “Aside from last week, we are getting better. Tonight was the best game of the season so far for us and we never gave up even though we were behind at the start.”
Leesville was the first to light up the scoreboard as running back sensation Cory McCoy scored on a 33-yard run duirng the Cats’ very first drive. McCoy led all rushers on the night with 163 yards on 25 carries. The extra point put Leesville up 7-0 going into the second quarter of action.
Rayne answered just before halftime as Deontrey Wilridge punched it in from five yards out behind rushes by Donald “T-June” Doucet and Trent Winbush. The extra point by Ben Alverez split the uprights for the extra point and the buzzer sounded for the half with the score tied at 7-all.
Doucet’s rushes came at quarterback due to an injured Jaylon Reed who was limited to defense and special teams.
“T-June (Doucet) really came through for us tonight,” Ware noted about Doucet’s production for the win. “He settled things down when we needed, he ran the ball hard when he scrabbled, and showed leadership -- something we need at this point.”
Doucet collected 18 yards on four carries during the ballgame, but his most memorial came in Rayne’s first score of the third quarter.
With a punt return by Darien Harmon and a short gainer by Wilridhe, Doucet scrambled towards the sidelines and ran right over a defender for a much-neededfirst down, setting up another Wilridge touchdown. Another Alverez extra point put the Wolves ahead 14-7 lidway through the third quarter of play.
Leesville answered on their very next drive as McCoy scored his second touchdown for a 14-all score midway through the third quarter.
But, following a punt return by Wilridge, along with good gainers by Winbush, Wilridge and Doucet, Harmon touched the endzone from eight yards out for a Rayne lead. The extra point was wide right and the Wolves held a 20-14 lead as the third quarter closed and the entire fourth quarter remained.
Each team fell short on two long drives each, all comng down to the final drive of the night, a push by the Wampus Cats which began at their own 35-yard line.
Leesville quarterback Caden Wheeler improved on his 71 passing yards on the long drive that came down to the final seconds. Three throws were attempted in the endzone by the Cats and the Rayne defense rejected all three as time ran out -- or what everyone thought.
A questionable call placed one second on the clock and allowed Leesville another attempt. But again, the Rayne defense came through and rushed the field for the victory.
Leading the Rayne defense were Nicky Faucheauxm Jaylon Reed and Trent Winbush each with 5 tackles and 4 solos. Brant Broussard, Tony Gabriel and Richard Breaux recorded 3 tackles and 2 solos, in addition to Darien Harmon, Nick Boudreaux, Carl Davis and Johnny Deculit each with 2 tackles.
Finishing up the Rayne defense were Austin Coleman, Tyler Carriere, Cameron Gibson, Zach Fontent and Zach Boudreaux.
Wilridge led Rayne rushing with 106 yards on 20 carries, followed closely by Winbush with 103 yards on 13 carries. Harmon recorded 87 yards on 11 carries, and Doucet added 18 yards with 4 carries.
“It surely feels good to be on the winning end of a close one,” commented Ware while referring to previous close losses. “I can’t stress enough how hard our guys played tonight.”
In response to their district outlook, “If we can pull out a couple wins before we meet Crowley in the final regular season game, we will be in a good position. But, one game at a time is all I’m asking right now.”
Rayne will host DeRidder on Friday when they will try to improve their district slate. Kickoff is 7 p.m. at Wolf Stadium.