SM Tigers struggle past Westgate, 17-10

The St. Martinville Tigers overcame an anemic offensive effort to pull out a 17-10 homecoming victory over a winless Westgate team last Friday.
The Tigers managed just 107 yards total offense – including a 71-yard touchdown run – but that proved to be enough as their defense, which bent a lot but never really broke, limited the visitors to a first quarter field goal and a fourth period touchdown.
St. Martinville just couldn’t seem to get its offense untracked while Westgate claimed a huge advantage in time of possession. The ’Ville ran off only 10 plays through the entire first half to Westgate’s 45. SM did manage a 26-21 edge in the second half but still finished with only 36 plays to Westgate’s 66.
The Tigers were operating without starting quarterback Jared Davis who is nursing a nagging knee injury. And senior running back Kain Pitre, sidelined with a sore shoulder, didn’t seen action until early in the third quarter but was effective with 37 yards and a TD on eight carries.
Backup QB Dyllan Derouselle struggled all night under a blitzing Westgate defense. He only attempted seven passes, completing two for a net gain of zero yards.
While the SM defense struggled to keep Westgate contained, it did claim four turnovers, including two fumble recoveries and two interceptions.
After Westgate took a 3-0 lead late in the first quarter on a 35-yard field goal, St. Martinville answered with a 71-yard TD run by Johnny Leday on a busted play.

Early in the second half St. Martinville got the ball at the WHS 27 after recovering a muffed punt. But a holding penalty and a sack of Derouselle killed the possession.
Reece Frederick recovered a Westgate fumble near midfield midway through the period and this time the Tigers managed a 27-yard field goal off the foot of sophomore Dylan Wilmore to stretch their lead to 10-3 on the second play of the final stanza.
But the visiting Tigers struck back when Makavin Batiste fumbled the ball away at the SM 32. Six plays later Trevon Doucet found an opening and raced 9 yards to pay dirt and the score was knotted at 10-all with 6:36 remaining.
Deantre James returned the ensuing kickoff 50 yards to the WHS 40, but the Tigers couldn’t capitalize and had to punt.
The ’Ville got its winning touchdown after corner back Kyran Williams picked off a Darian Charles pass at the Westgate 19. It took the Tigers just three plays to reach the end zone, with Pitre going 5 yards for the TD at the 2:58 mark.
The SM defense rose to the challenge, sacking Charles for an 11-yard loss on 4th-and-9 and the Tigers were able to run out the clock for the victory.
With the win St. Martinville improved to 6-3 overall and a perfect 3-0 in District 5-4A, setting up a league championship showdown with Cecilia this coming Friday in The ’Ville.