Kaplan defeats Patterson, 45-20

Patterson’s second-half comeback fell short again as the Lumberjacks dropped to (0-5, 0-1 District 8-3A) with a 45-20 loss at Kaplan Friday in district play.
The Lumberjacks also dug themselves a double-digit hole in last’s loss to Ellender.
“I like the emotion and effort we’re playing with, but we have to find a way to get started earlier in the game,” Patterson Coach Marvin Dantzler said. “We’ve gotten behind in nearly every game this season; we have to put together a whole game.”
Trailing 39-7 at the start of the fourth quarter, Patterson’s quarterback Hector Tolento scored on a zone-read from 5-yards out with 10:47 left. The two-point conversion failed for a 39-13 Kaplan lead.
Tolento, starting for the second straight week, was 13 of 27 passing for 173 yards and a touchdown. Patterson kicker Christian Soria uncorked a perfect onside-kick on the kickoff, and the ’Jacks’ recovered at Kaplan 47-yard line.
Running back Dontre Nicholas then ripped of a 22-yard run to setup Patterson with a first-and-10 at the Pirates’ 25.
Two plays later, Tolento found Jordan Butler for a 21-yard touchdown pass with 9:57 remaining. Soria’s point-after kick was good to make the score Kaplan 39, Patterson 20.
Soria’s second onside kick popped into the air, and Patterson recovered again at Kaplan’s 37-yard line. This time, however, the Pirates’ defense held on fourth down with 9:06 left in the game.
Kaplan (5-0, 2-0) took over and promptly went on a 13-play, 68-yard, all-run drive that culminated with a 2-yard Julius Johnson touchdown run.
The Pirates, ranked No.7 in last week’s Louisiana Sports Writers Association Class 3A prep poll, rushed for 341 yards Friday. Johnson was the team’s top ground-gainer with 25 carries for 179 yards and two scores. Mac Thibeaux added 10 carries for 43 yards and a score.
Kaplan quarterback Daniel Lotief completed 2 of 4 passes for 48 yards, but both went for touchdowns. He also rushed for a touchdown.
“They run it well, but all it’s about for them is alignment,” Dantzler said. “We (coaches) went over it all week, but we’re dealing with young kids and we allowed them to out-flank us. They didn’t do anything we hadn’t practiced for, but you have to give them credit for going back to it. They ran the overset, and they killed us with it. Our safety never got over and balanced up.”
Nicholas had his second consecutive 100-yard game for Patterson, with 26 carries for 144 yards and a touchdown. The junior has rushed 59 times for 335 yards and a touchdown this season.
Butler led the receiving corps with six catches for 97 yards and a score, while Dajon Richard had three receptions for 38 yards.
“I told the kids that it doesn’t matter how we get into the playoffs, we just have to get in,” Dantzler said. “We would have loved to win the district, but that’s a pretty good Kaplan team, so we have to control what’s in front of us. We have to get healthy and get some guys back.”
Patterson will travel to face rival and district foe Berwick (4-1, 1-1) Thursday. Berwick lost its first game of the season, 55-36, at Erath Friday.