Livonia rolls past Morgan City, 56-27

The Morgan City Tigers put up a fight early but Malcolm Dedrick and the Livonia Wildcats were just too much for the Tigers to handle as Livonia cruised to a 56-27 win Friday.
While Livonia took a quick 6-0 lead with 8:52 remaining in the contest after scoring on its initial drive of the game, a 4-play, 55-yard series capped by a 15-yard pass from quarterback Cee Jay Powell to Kendrick Paul, Morgan City came roaring back immediately when Jaylen Jones took the ensuing kickoff and returned it 82 yards for a score.
Irving Delgado’s extra point gave the Tigers a 7-6 lead with 8:37 remaining in the first quarter.
However, Livonia got on track with six more first-half touchdowns — five of those by Dedrick — to take a 49-14 advantage into halftime.
The Wildcats scored touchdowns on five straight offensive possessions after Morgan City had taken the early lead.
Livonia reached the end zone on a 3-yard run by Dedrick at the 7:05 mark; a 1-yard run by Dedrick with 0:20 remaining in the first quarter; a 21-yard run by Dedrick with 9:46 remaining in the second quarter; a 1-yard run by Dedrick at the 8:46 mark; and a 6-yard touchdown pass from Powell to Stephen Guidgy at the 5:55 mark, for a commanding 41-7 lead.
Morgan City scored on its next offensive possession via trickery as Jones took a handoff from quarterback Abram Hartley before tossing back to Hartley who scored on a 26-yard touchdown reception.
However, Livonia came back when Dedrick took the ensuing kickoff and returned it 84 yards for a score.
Dedrick, who didn’t carry the football in the second half, finished the first half with 13 carries for 125 yards and four rushing touchdowns.
Livonia opened the second half, in which a running clock was utilized, with a touchdown on offense as Powell kept the ball on the third play from scrimmage and weaved his way through the Morgan City defense for a 46-yard run and a 56-14 Livonia advantage with 10:25 remaining in the ball game.
Powell finished with three carries for 85 yards and a score.
As a team, Livonia rolled up 212 yards rushing and 299 yards of total offense.
Powell completed another 7 of 9 passes through the air for 87 yards and two scores.
Defensively, Livonia shut down Morgan City’s run game, limiting it to just 28 yards rushing.
Marsh, normally a big-play threat for the Tigers, was limited to just eight carries for 15 yards.
However, the Tigers, mainly in the second half, were able to make some strides in their pass game as Hartley, who played the majority of the game for the Tigers at quarterback, completed 11 of 16 passes for 73 yards and two touchdowns.
Hartley completed second-half touchdown throws to Kevon Marsh covering 6 yards and Jacolbi Francois from 19 yards out.
In the game, Jones also completed 1 of 2 passes for 26 yards and a score.
Hartley led the Tigers’ receivers with one catch for 26 yards and a score, while Marsh caught three passes for 22 yards and a touchdown and Francois, three receptions for 19 yards and a score.
The Tigers were limited to 113 yards of total offense.
Morgan City (1-3) will return to action Friday when it travels to face Franklin.

MCHS Box Score
MCHS LHS First downs: 7 12
Rushing yards: 28 212
Passing yards: 109 85
Total yards: 137 297

Score by Quarters
MCHS 7 7 0 13 – 27
LHS 21 28 7 0 – 56

MCHS Individual Stats Passing
Abram Hartley 11-15-0 83 yds., 2 TDs; Jaylen Jones 1-2-0 26 yds. 1 TD; Hector Tolento, 0-2-1
Receiving
Abram Hartley 1-26, 1 TD; Makye Richard, 2-24, Kevon Marsh 3-22 1 TD, Jacolbi Francois 3-19 1 TD, Jaylen Jones 2-10; Ethan Scioneaux, 1-8

Rushing
Kevon Marsh 8-15; Jacolbi Francois 5-10;Abram Hartley 4-2; Jaylen Jones 4-1.