By Brian Trahan, Leesville Daily Leader
Southwest Daily News
Posted Sep 19, 2010 @ 04:00 AM
Leesville, La. —
There was good news and bad news for the Sulphur Tors here Friday night. On the one hand, the offense came alive and scored 40 points. On the other hand, the defense couldn't get a key stop in the fourth quarter and surrendered 45 points in a thrilling game at Wampus Cat Stadium here Friday night.
The 45-40 defeat dropped Sulphur to 0-3 on the season under new head coach Harold Fusilier, although the coach was upbeat following the game.
"We played an outstanding first half and really, offensively we played well all night," he said. "We did not play very well defensively in the second half. We just didn't improve. Part of the credit has to go to Leesville and what they did offensively. They played well and have some outstanding athletes."
The Tors may have found their workhorse in the backfield in sophomore Brian Walker, who led the team with 100 yards on 20 carries. It was his two-yard touchdown with 11:12 remaining in the game that gave the Tors the lead at 40-33. Fusilier turned the tables on Leesville head coach David Feaster — who called five onside kicks on the night — and maintained possession with a little kickoff trickery of his own.
However, disaster struck just two plays later that switched momentum in a game during which momentum endured a roller coaster ride.
After picking up six yards on first down at the Leesville 46 yard line, Walker fumbled on the next play. Leesville senior Demetrius Atwater scooped the ball up and raced 46 yards to cut the lead to 40-39 with 10:16 remaining.
"We played with so much intensity all night long, but we had a few key turnovers that really hurt us," Fusilier said.
Leesville's defense, which had not done a good job of getting the Tors off the field all evening, came up big and forced a three and out on the next possession. That's when the Wampus Cats began to rely on senior speedster Levander Liggins. He hauled in a 44-yard reception as part of a threatening drive that began at the Leesville three yard line. However, on the next play Sulphur jumped on a loose ball at its own 14 yard line to halt the drive.
With time winding down, Sulphur was unable to manage a first down and was forced to punt again. This time, Leesville took over at its own 48 with 4:46 left in the game.
Again, junior quarterback Zack Squyres went to work and leaned on Liggins. Helped along by a pass interference call on the Tors, Leesville drove down to the Sulphur 25 yard line. Liggins then picked up rushes of 15 and nine yard down to the one and taking a snap under center, dove in for the winning points with 2:52 left.
Sulphur had no more success stopping Liggins than West Monroe or Sam Houston did in the two prior games. He rushed for 87 yards on 11 carries and a TD, while hauling in 5 catches for 132 yards and two more TDs.
"I'll tell you what, if No. 1 (Liggins) was on my team, I would be buying that kid a steak dinner this weekend," Fusilier said. "He is extremely fast and we just couldn't seem to bring him down. He's a great, great player."
With the score 45-40, Sulphur still had time to mount one last comeback attempt. Quarterback Brice Gardiner had success with intermediate routes against the Wampus Cats defense all night. Sulphur set up at its own 29 yard line and on first down Gardiner hit Tyler Lominac for a 22-yard pickup to the leesville 49 yard line. On the next play, more trickery backfired when a hook-and-ladder attempt to Toma Stubbs went awry. His pitch sailed over the head of Cody Dardeau for a net loss of three yards on the play.
Three straight incomplete passes turned the ball back over to Leesville, which ran out the clock to seal the win.
The Tors had their best offensive night of the young season, rolling up 331 total yards of offense. Behind Walker and Keith Jasmine, the Tord rushed for 206 yards. Jasmine added 63 yards on 14 totes. Gardiner was 8-of-16 passing for 125 yards and a pair of TDs. He hit Dentzel Brown from 41 and 33 yards in the second and third quarter scoring battle with Leesville.
The first half was a complete exchange of scores, with Sulphur taking its first lead at 26-18 on Jasmine 10-yard run. The Wampus Cats rallied to tie the game when tight end Jeval Chancy was the beneficiary of a tipped pass that fell into his hands to complete a 34-yard TD hookup with Squyres. A two-point conversion by Diontay Thurman tied the game at 26-26.
Squyres, who had the worst passing performance of his career at Sulphur in 2009, managed to shatter his own school record for passing yards in a game. He was 19-of-33 for 402 yards with 5 TD passes and one interception.
"My goal tonight was to just spread the ball around to all my guys and let them make plays," Squyres said. "That's what we did. I have to credit my offensive line for giving me the time to look downfield."
Sulphur will remain on the road this week, traveling north on Hwy. 167 to face the Ruston Bearcats.
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