Wampus Cats quick to pounce, score 28 first-quarter points to beat Jennings
Published 11:36 am Saturday, September 4, 2021
- Leesville’s Atravian Hawkins intercepts a pass intended for the Bulldogs’Trevor Etienne Friday night in Jennings. (Rick Hickman / American Press)
By Damian Juneau
Special to the American Press
JENNINGS — The Leesville Wampus Cats jumped on the Jennings Bulldogs early and took a 35-14 victory over the Jennings Bulldogs Friday night.
Leesville (1-0) wasted little time getting on the board as the Wampus Cats took the opening kickoff back to the Jennings 21-yard line. Two plays later Caleb Gallashaw scored on a 17-yard run to take a 7-0 lead with 11:14 in the first quarter.
The Wampus Cats gained excellent field position on the next drive when they intercepted a pass with 10 minutes left in the first quarter. Four plays later Jerome Watts connected with Ke-Mhari Pruitt on a 61-yard touchdown pass with 7:28 left in the quarter.
At that point the game was delayed twice by lightning.
Jennings (0-1) scored on the first play back from the delay when Trevor Etienne returned the kick 90 yards to cut the Leesville advantage to 14-8.
Leesville wasted little time returning the score on the next drive. Watts threw his second of three touchdowns in the first quarter with a 54-yard pass to Daveion Grubb. Two minutes later the Cats followed that with a 29-yard touchdown pass for a 28-8 advantage with 4:11 remaining in the quarter.
The Wampus Cats forced another turnover to start the third quarter when Derrick Bebee intercepted a pass. Watts wasted little time throwing his fourth touchdown to Pruitt to give the Wampus Cats a 35-8 lead.
Jennings then drove the field looking to return the score in the third quarter. Etienne scored his second touchdown on a 19-yard run with 4:46 left in the third quarter.
Leesville finished with 277 passing yards and 216 rushing yards. Watts finished by going 12-for-21 with 277 yards and threw four touchdowns. Gallashaw led the way on the ground with 115 yards rushing, 53 yards receiving, and scored one touchdown. Pruitt finished with three receptions for 106 yards and scored two touchdowns. Leesville made three interceptions and limited Jennings to 34 offensive yards in the first half.
Jennings finished with 103 rushing yards and 73 passing yards on the night. Etienne finished with 101 yards on 11 carries and had five receptions for 42 yards and scored both touchdowns for Jennings
