Bulldogs come close in loss to Westgate

A missed field goal and a fourth quarter turnover ended up costing Cecilia as the Westgate Tigers escaped with a 28-18 District 5-4A victory here last Thursday. The Bulldogs trailed the Tigers by only 21-18 going into the final period. Westgate stretched its lead to 28-18 early in the quarter when Ramon Guidry notched his second touchdown on a 10-yard run. But the Bulldogs battled back, taking advantage of a short Westgate punt and driving to the Tiger 9-yard-line. On third down, quarterback Landon Roberts threw under pressure and his pass was picked off near the goal line to end the threat and allow Westgate to run out the clock. Cecilia got on the board first when sophomore speedster Raymond Calais broke an 88-yard touchdown run midway through the opening stanza. But Westgate knotted the score two minutes later on a 5-yard TD by Guidry. The Tigers widened their lead to 14-7 at the 7:30 mark of the second quarter on an 8-yard run by Jalen Briscoe. The Bulldogs answered with a 32-yard field goal by Tyler Doucet. And late in the half Cecilia drove to the Westgate 15 but Doucet’s second field goal attempt missed the mark and Westgate clung to a 10-14 halftime lead. The Bulldogs fumbled on their first possession of the second half and the Tigers used the turnover to go up 21-10 just 1½ minutes into the third stanza when QB Aaron Bird found Jason Collins open for an 8-yard TD pass. But Cecilia managed to close the gap to 21-18 on a 5-yard run by Damon Patt with 3:50 remaining in the period, setting up the dramatic fourth quarter. Westgate’s big offensive line helped the Tigers grind out 163 yards rushing and gave Bird time to complete 12-of-16 passes without an interception for 128 yards and a TD. Cecilia’s Calais led all rushers with 128 yards on 15 carries. The Bulldogs host parish rival Breaux Bridge this Friday, trying to keep the Tigers from claiming the St. Martin Parish champion title.