U-High coasts over Capitol
University High scored 30 points in the first quarter to put their game against Capitol out of reach early before coasting home to a 44-14 win over the Lions at Jeff Boss Field Friday night.
Nick Brossette rushed for 105 yards and two touchdowns on only 10 carries for the Cubs (6-1, 2-0 7-2A), while Manny Miles threw U-High’s lone touchdown pass of the night to Zach Aguilar.
“I thought they did a good job,” said U-High coach Chad Mahaffey. “They were in a tough situation playing-wise, but they handled it well, played hard and executed.”
Because of player suspensions, the Lions (2-5, 1-1 7-2A) dressed just 17 players Friday.
T’Vontay Wells rushed for 113 yards on 24 carries, while quarterback Anthony Thomas caught the Lions’ sole passing touchdown on a trick play pass from Cedrick Whitfield.
“The team we played against is one of the best in Louisiana,” said CHS coach Claude Coleman. “They’re well coached, they play hard, and they don’t make mistakes. Our team showed heart, character and determination. Those 17 are the toughest kids I’ve ever seen.”
One week after scoring touchdowns on his final three touches against Episcopal, Brossette took his second touch 24 yards for a touchdown to open the scoring for the Cubs.
Linebacker Steven Sensley picked up UHS’ second touchdown on a strip and score, wrestling the ball away from James Miskell on an end around and sprinting 15 yards into the end zone.
The Lions went backward on their next drive, and on fourth-and-18 from the 10-yard line, snapped the ball over punter Joe McWilliams’ head. McWilliams gathered the ball in the back of the end zone, but with his momentum going backward, stepped out of bounds for a safety.
Jarrod Franklin rushed up the middle for a TD from a yard out, then Brossette added his second touchdown on a 20-yard cutback run to the left to give the Cubs a 30-0 lead late in the first quarter.
Miles replaced Nik Kragthorpe at quarterback in the second quarter, and on his first drive led UHS down the field before hitting Aguilar on a slant for a 15-yard touchdown.
Bo Bankston scored the Cubs’ final touchdown of the first half, intercepting Thomas and returning the ball 20 yards to stretch University High’s lead to 44-0.
The Lions started the second half with a 10-minute, 40-second drive that went the length of the field. Captiol scored on a trick play when Whitfield took the ball on an end around, stopped, then found Thomas open down the left sideline for a 25-yard score.
Capitol cut further into the lead on the first play of the fourth quarter when Miskell atoned for his earlier error by recovering a D.J. White fumble and returning it 65 yards for a touchdown.
That was all the scoring either side would muster over the remainder of the game though, and after the Lions turned the ball over on downs late, the Cubs knelt out the win.