’Jacks win second straight; beat Westlake 27-13

It looks like the Patterson Lumberjacks have turned the corner.
Patterson jumped out to a 14-0 lead en route to a 27-13 win against Westlake Friday for the team’s second win in a row.
“We got off to a great start, but we don’t have that killer instinct yet,” Patterson head coach Chad Blanchard said. “After the first two drives, we had so much success that I think the kids thought it was going to be easy, but they practice just like we do and they have a good coaching staff that got them back into the game.”
Patterson (2-3) never trailed in the game thanks in part to a big game from senior Daylon Charlot.
Charlot, a University of Alabama commitment, made big plays on both sides of the ball.
The ‘Jacks opened the game with its customary great field position. Teams have decided to give Patterson field position rather than kick to dangerous returners Charlot and Mykel Jones.
Junior running back Tristen Ausama continued his strong play carrying the load on the ground. He capped a 7-play, 63-yard drive with a 1-yard touchdown run at the 9:51 mark of the first quarter. Christian Soria’s kick gave Patterson a 7-0 edge.
Ausama carried 20 times for 96 yards and a touchdown. He is averaging 134.3 yards per game in the last three games, including 202 yards in last week’s win against Vandebilt.
Patterson’s defense, also finding its footing after struggling early this season, forced a three-and-out on Westlake’s first offensive possession.
Patterson wasted little time extending its lead when quarterback Sirbatian Charles found Charlot behind the Rams’ defense for a 64-yard touchdown strike with 5:22 remaining in the first quarter. Charlot had three catches for 106 yards and two scores in the contest.
Westlake (1-4) wouldn’t fold, however, and Jacobe Esclovan jumped in front of a pass by Charles to give the ball back to the Rams on the last play of the first quarter.
Esclovan and Drake Mott began to find running room, and Mott capped the drive with 1-yard scoring run at the 8:02 mark of the second quarter.
Both teams’ defenses stepped up for the remainder of the quarter, and Patterson took a 14-7 lead into halftime.
“Our defense has improved a great deal,” Blanchard said. “The kids are really starting to understand what we are trying to do on that side of the ball, and they are playing really hard.”
Both defenses remained dominant in a scoreless third quarter. Patterson’s defense was led by Earl Johnson with several tackles for a loss and a sack, while standout linebacker Nehemiah Augustus was his disruptive self.
“One of the things we are doing differently defensively is helping Earl out by putting him in situations to make plays because he is our best defensive linemen,” Blanchard said.
Patterson opened the fourth quarter facing a fourth-and-2 at the Westlake 35-yard line. Patterson decided to go for it, but Ausama was cut down a yard short.
Westlake took over and completed a 30-yard pass to tight end Orlando Parr off an excellent run-fake. The Rams also converted a fourth-and-1 at Patterson’s 26-yard line with 8:57 remaining to set up a first-down touchdown pass from quarterback Hunter Racca to Cade Witherwax. Witherwax, a tall receiver, out jumped Patterson defensive back D.J. Jones for the 25-yard score on a fade pattern, to pull Westlake within one point of tying the game.
Patterson’s special teamer Malik Bass, however, burst through the line to block Westlake’s PAT kick to keep Patterson in front 14-13.
Westlake sailed the kickoff out of bounds in an effort to keep the ball away from the ‘Jacks explosive returners, so Patterson took over near mid-field. The ‘Jacks continued to run the ball and melt time off the clock, but on third-down at Westlake’s 39-yard line, Charles tossed a fade into double coverage that Charlot leaped over both defenders for a touchdown with 5:15 left to play. Soria added the PAT for a 21-13 lead.
Charles finished the game 9-of-12 passing for 187 yards with two touchdowns and an interception.
Westlake got the ball back and marched down to the Patterson 37-yard line where the Rams decided to go back to Witherwax on a fade route. This time, however, Patterson had put Charlot on him man-to-man, and Charlot made an incredible one-handed interception. He returned the pick down near the Westlake goal line. The ball was moved back on a block in the back penalty, but Patterson was in great position with just more than a minute to play.
Patterson handed the ball to hard running senior John Davis four straight times, concluding with an 8-yard touchdown run with 45 seconds to play. Davis carried seven times for 38 yards and a score.
Patterson will return to action Friday when it hosts Southern Lab (1-4) Friday at the Sugardome. The game will serve as the Lumberjacks’ homecoming. Southern Lab lost to Plaquemine 27-20 in overtime Friday.

Patterson Box Score
PHS WHS First downs: 15 12
Rushing yards: 156 96
Passing yards: 187 119
Total yards: 343 215
A-C-HI: 12-9-1 12-6-1
Penalty-yards: 9-61 4-20
Fumbles-lost 1-1 0-0

Score by Quarters
PHS 14 0 0 13 -- 27
WHS 0 7 0 6 -- 13

PHS Individual Stats Passing
Sirbatian Charles 9-of-12 187 yds 2 TDs, 1 Int.

Receiving
Daylon Charlot 3-106 yds, 2 TDs; Shay Ragas 3-26 yds; Mykel Jones 2-49 yds; Tristen Ausama 1-6 yds.

Rushing
Tristen Ausama 20-96 yds, TDs; Mykel Jones 2-11 yds; Sirbatian Charles 6-12 yds;
D.J. Jones 2 for (-1 yds); John Davis 7-38 yds, TD