WESTLAKE — Lake Charles College Prep’s offense was just getting by in the first half, hampered by penalties, turnovers, and missed opportunities. But the Trailblazers surged after halftime to beat Westlake 42-12 at Max Caldarera Memorial Stadium.

LCCP fumbled the ball twice in the first half, punted three times, and managed only 122 yards of total offense. The second half was a total reversal as they went turnover-free and scored on four of their six drives, including three in the third quarter to break the game open. LCCP finished with 326 yards of total offense as they won back-to-back games for the first time this season.

“I thought Westlake came out ready to play ball,” Lake Charles College Prep head coach Erick Franklin said. “Our boys really weren’t ready to play ball. We didn’t really kill ourselves in the first half.

“We missed a lot of open guys in the first half. I told them you have to believe in one another like you did all year. The offense is doing a good job. The defense kind of struggling and you have to go by both ways. I told them in the second half, I want to see what type of team they are. We came out battling in the second half.”

LCCP’s Ayden Carter returned the opening kickoff of the second half 55-yards to the Ram 20-yard line. Four plays later, Alijah Pete, running out of the wildcat formation, scored from two yards out.

Another big return by Carter on a punt (47 yards) set up the Trailblazers in the red zone again just over a minute later. This time sophomore quarterback Dylen Vital found Pete for a 26-yard touchdown and a 28-6 lead with 7:17 left in the third quarter. Vital threw multiple touchdown passes (3) for the third consecutive game and finished with 171 yards on 13 of 24 passing. Carter caught six passes for 74 yards and ran for 70 yards on six carries.

“I think this team has it now,” Franklin said. “I truly, truthfully do.

“I think last year, you know, with Dylen Vital being just a freshman last year, we knew we could only go so far. But with him being a sophomore and playing the way he’s playing right now, I think the sky’s the limit for this team with us playing defense like we’re playing right now.”

The defense set up the Trailblazers’ next score after David Thomas picked off a pass, and Carter scored on a 35-yard run to put LCCP up 35-6 with 42 seconds left in the third quarter.

Westlake (5-3, 1-1) had 144 yards of total offense in the first half and led 6-0 after turning an LCCP fumble into a 40-yard touchdown from Brody Anderson to Peyton Kile with 2:26 left in the first quarter. But Braylon White’s 70-yard pick-six with 2:29 left in the first half seemed to ignite the Trailblazers defense. They held the Rams to just four yards in the third quarter and 112 total yards in the second half. Most of the Rams’ second-half yardage game on a 59-yard touchdown reception by Kevin Rideau to open the fourth quarter.

“It’s huge, man. Like I said, you got to be ready when the time comes,” Franklin said. “You know, a couple years ago, we had a pick on the same field, on the same cover, and it happened again tonight. Again, when the opportunity comes, you got to be ready for it, and Braylon White did a great job on it.”