By BRET H. MCCORMICK, Journal Sports
East Ascension had stymied the vaunted ASH Trojan offense for the majority of the first three quarters Friday night, but Thomas Bachman had a trick up his sleeve.
Trialing by 7 just over a minute into the fourth quarter, Bachman dialed up a halfback double pass that the Trojans executed to perfection.
Senior quarterback Ty Feaster tossed a backward pass to Jimmie Duncan, who caught the ball and immediately launched it downfield in stride to senior EJ Scott for a 66-yard touchdown to tie the game at 14.
“He threw a great ball,” Bachman said of Duncan, the junior utility player who sees action as a running back, receiver and defensive back.
It was a huge momentum swing for an Alexandria Senior High team that had moved the ball well offensively but had struggled to finish drives and find the end zone.
Two possessions later, the Trojans (2-2) took the lead for good when junior JT Lindsey bust a run up the middle for a 29-yard touchdown to give ASH the decisive 21-14 advantage.
East Ascension (0-4), which boasts the state’s toughest schedule with losses against Zachary, Destrehan, West Monroe and ASH, had taken 7-0 and 14-7 leads on two passing touchdowns by Hudson Browning.
The first came late in the first half when Browning connected with senior Jacorey Mitchell for a 29-yard touchdown. After the Trojans tied it on a 3-yard Lindsey touchdown, Browning found senior Brennon Thompson running free up the seam for a 66-yard TD.
Aside from those two plays, Bachman said the Trojans’ defense played extremely well, particularly bottling up EA’s running game. Bachman highlighted the play of seniors Jeremiah Jeffers-Wright and Aayden Walker on the ASH defensive line.
“You take those two explosive plays away and we played really, really good, knowing that they struggle to throw the football,” Bachman said. “I was really proud.”
The Trojans made two huge turnovers that helped lead to the victory. EA looked destined for a 67-yard TD pass, but the ASH defense forced a fumble near the goal line that was recovered by sophomore Jay Frazier to keep the Spartans off the scoreboard. Frazier also later intercepted Browning and helped flip the field position in favor of the Trojans.
“That’s a good road win for us,” Bachman said.
Lindsey continued to carry the ASH offense, eclipsing the 100-yard mark for the third straight game as he carried the ball 36 times for 169 yards and two touchdowns. Although the Trojan passing game struggled with efficiency, Scott had four receptions for 80 yards and a TD while Darius Washington had five catches for 61 yards.
The Trojans, who have traveled to Carencro, St. Thomas More and East Ascension over the first four weeks, return home to Butch Stoker Stadium next week for Homecoming against Green Oaks.
Menard and Peabody both were shutout victors on Friday night, while Northwood-Lena and Bolton both remained winless.
Menard’s offense showed no signs of stress as the Eagles broke in a new quarterback and improved to 2-2 on the season with a 31-0 win over Sacred Heart.
Sophomore Jake Vaughn brought a new dimension to Menard’s offense as he ran 20 times for 68 yards and a touchdown as the Eagles’ ground game piled up over 250 rushing yards.
Sophomore Aidyn Moran rushed for 105 yards and two touchdowns, and the Eagles scored on their first three drives as they cruised to victory.
Senior Ryan Hicks made a 37-yard field goal to get Menard on the board late in the first quarter. Senior Cooper Scott scored a 10-yard touchdown, and Moran raced 39 yards off left tackle with just over two minutes left in the first half to give the Eagles a 20-0 lead.
Vaughn scored on a 3-yard keeper late in the third quarter, and Moran scored his second TD from 28 yards out midway through the fourth quarter.
Peabody was a runaway 49-0 winner over Green Oaks as the Warhorses improved to 3-1. Junior TJ Hullaby caught two passing touchdowns and also had a pick-six to lead the Warhorses.
Northwood-Lena came up just short of a Homecoming victory as the Gators fell 21-20 to Beekman Charter.
Bolton, meanwhile, was a 44-6 loser against Arcadia. Senior quarterback Connor McLain found the end zone for the second time this season on a 3-yard sneak for the Bears’ only score.