Westgate keys on Citizen, Williams scores two TDs
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.
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.