Westgate keys on Citizen, Williams scores two TDs

Published 10:20 am Sunday, October 3, 2021

Westgate kept Lake Charles College Prep’s explosive offense in check for most of the game and ground out enough offense to take home a 28-12 nondistrict win Friday night.

Westgate two-way star Derek Williams scored a pair of touchdowns on offense and helped the Tigers (4-1) hold Trailblazers star TreVonte Citizen to his lowest output of the season with 52 yards on 13 carries.

Citizen scored a touchdown and had two more — an 81-yard run and 88-yard kickoff return — called back on penalty in the second half. Citizen had run for at least 125 yards in the first four games of the season.

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The Blazers (2-3) had two passes intercepted in the end zone and lost a fumble that Westgate converted into a touchdown. Westgate did not commit a turnover.

Jordan Doucet, a receiver who moved to quarterback two weeks ago due to injury, ran for 119 yards and a touchdown. Williams ran for 45 yards on five carries, including 35 yards on four carries on a fourth-quarter touchdown drive that sealed the win. Williams scored on a 7-yard run with 59 seconds left.

Citizen returned the ensuing kickoff with a spectacular, winding 88-yard touchdown run, but the Blazers were flagged for an illegal block in the back.

The Blazers will start District 4-3A play next week with a sub-.500 record, but head coach Erick Franklin is undaunted.

“Look at the caliber of teams we played — Greenwood (Miss.) had the top-rated running back in the country, De La Salle will probably play in the state championship game gain and Westgate (ranked second in Class 4A) is a quarterfinal/semifinal team,” he said.

“Our kids are fighters. That’s what we’ve learned this season.”

Westgate dominated most of the first quarter. Quarterback Doucet scored on a 50-yard scramble on the second Tigers play from scrimmage.

Prep fumbled the ball away on its next offensive snap. Westgate capitalized on the short field with Williams scoring on a 10-yard run to extend Westgate’s lead to 14-0.

The Blazers scored on the final play of the quarter, a 78-yard pass from Josiah Bushnell to Keshlon Jackson down the right sideline.

Bushnell finished with 105 yards passing.