Bulldogs run past Tigers

White Castle’s rushing attack was too much for Morgan City in Friday’s season opener at Tiger Stadium.
The Bulldogs rolled up nearly 400 yards on the ground en route to a 50-28 win.
But the Tigers had their chance for the upset.
White Castle jumped out to a 16-0 lead after a sack-fumble of Morgan City quarterback Hector Tolento led to a short scoring run by running back Daniel Edwards with 6:47 to play in the first quarter. Edwards carried 12 times for 96 yards and a touchdown.
Morgan City answered with an eight-play, 54-yard drive that Tolento capped with a 22-yard touchdown pass to Jaylen Jones.
Tolento completed just the one pass in the game. Jones had a rushing and receiving touchdown in the game.
White Castle added another score with no time remaining in the quarter when quarterback Jacory Jones hit running back Dontrell Taylor with a screen-pass, and he raced 71 yards for a touchdown.
It was just the start of a big night for Taylor, who also carried 13 times for 154 yards and a touchdown.
Morgan City opened the second quarter with a 12-play, 52-yard drive, which included two fourth down conversions, that ended with a Kevon Marsh 1-yard scoring run.
Marsh was a bright spot for the Tigers, carrying 21 times for 103 yards and a touchdown.
The Tigers’ defense held the Bulldogs out of the end zone for the final 5:40 to pull to 24-14 at halftime.
Morgan City capitalized on White Castle’s continually poor kickoffs, getting the ball at White Castle’s 44-yard line to open the second half. Marsh picked up where he left off, darting 38 yards to setup the Tigers in a first-and-goal situation at the Bulldogs’ 6-yard line. Jones slashed in from there, and Morgan City had fought back to within three at 24-21 with 11:36 left in the third quarter.
“We got them tired, and we were able to fight back on them,” first-year Morgan City head coach Scott Tregle said.
With momentum already on the Tigers’ side, Morgan City’s defense forced a rare three-and-out. White Castle’s kicking woes struck again when the Bulldogs’ punter fumbled the snap.
Morgan City took over first-and-goal at the Bulldogs’ 1-yard line.
Tolento scored to give the Tigers their first lead of the night, 28-24, with 8:28 remaining in the third quarter.
“At that point, I thought we were going to take over the game,” Tregle said. “They looked like they were gassed.”
White Castle wasted little time responding, however, when Taylor ripped Morgan City for a 70-yard run before the Tigers’ speedster, Jaylen Jones, ran him down at the 11-yard line.
But, WCHS’ Jacory Jones hit Christopher Major on second down for an 11-yard score with 6:51 left in the quarter. Morgan City’s defense stopped White Castle’s two-point-conversion for the first time for a 30-28 Bulldogs’ lead.
Morgan City (0-1) got another short field, but Marsh was corralled on three straight runs, forcing a punt.
“That series was big,” Tregle said. “They were able to take back the momentum. They just had so many good running backs. They just wore us down with fresh backs, and we couldn’t tackle them late.”
Morgan City’s defense, led by Clifton Escort, stiffened but couldn’t overcome White Castle’s numerous running backs. The Bulldogs went on a 13-play, 78-yard drive that was capped by Harold Zachary’s 2-yarder with 9:46 left in the fourth quarter.
Taylor added a 10-yard score, while Major added a 6-yarder with 42 seconds left in the game.
White Castle (1-0) counted on its numerous running backs in the second half.
“I told our kids it was going to be a war of attrition in the third and fourth quarters,” White Castle head coach Lamar Thomas said. “I knew if we kept chopping away, we would break loose. We’re a 1A team, but our backs can get it.”
Morgan City travels to Central of Baton Rouge Friday, while White Castle will host Covenant Christian.

Morgan City Boxscore
MCHS WCHS
First downs: 13 22
Rushing yards: 178 395
Passing yards: 22 98
Total yards: 200 493
Att-Comp-Int: 2-1-0 6-3-0
Penalty yards: 6-50 7-50
Fumbles-lost: 2-1 1-1

Score By Quarters
WCHS 24 0 6 20 – 50
MCHS 7 7 14 0 – 28

Scoring Summary
First Quarter
WCHS: Jacory Jones 2-yard run (run good) 8:56

WCHS: Daniel Edwards 4-yard run (run good) 6:47

MCHS: Jaylen Jones 22-yards pass from Hector Tolento (kick good) 2:51

WCHS: Dontrell Taylor 71-yard pass from Jones (run good) :00

Second Quarter
MCHS: Kevon Marsh 1-yard run (kick good) 5:40
Third Quarter
MCHS: Jones 6-yard run (kick good) 11:36

MCHS: Tolento 1-yard run (kick good) 8:28

WCHS: Christopher Major 11-yard pass from Jones (run failed) 6:51

Fourth Quarter
WCHS: Harold Zachary 2-yard run (run failed) 9:46

WCHS: Taylor 10-yard run (pass failed) 4:52

WCHS: Major 6-yard run (run good) :42

MCHS stats
Passing
Hector Tolento 1-of-2 for 22 yards and TD

Receiving
Jaylen Jones 1-22 yards, TD

Rushing
Kevon Marsh, 21-103 yards, TD; Jaylen Jones, 3-44 yards, TD; Jacolbi Francois, 8-27 yards; Hector Tolento, 2-5 yards, TD; Dustin Harris, 1-1 yard; Ethan Scioneaux, 2- (-2) yds