Woodlawn Falls to 1-3, Looks Forward to West St. John

Sep 29, 2016

Lillian Khemmanyvong ‘17

The Woodlawn Panthers suffered a tragic loss to the St. Amant Gators last Friday by the score of 58-0. St. Amant is ranked number eleven in the latest 5A polls and outmatched the Panthers in every phase of the game.

The team worked to keep up with the Gators but it wasn’t enough for Woodlawn to put themselves on the board.

“Going back to the drawing board, getting ready for next week.” Head Coach Daniel Luquet said when asked what his plans for the remainder of the season were. “We just have to continue to keep doing what we’re doing. I think we had a great week of practice, it just didn’t show in the game.”

Cheerleaders pose for a picture before the St. Amant game on September 23, 2016.

The Panthers were able to hold St. Amant in check in the second half, only allowing them to score once before ending the game.

The game had few highlights for Woodlawn, but junior safety Xavier Lodge did have ten tackles and one fumble recovery, along with two interceptions by senior cornerback Trey Hardnett.

This week, the Panthers are preparing to take on West St. John, who holds the same 1-3 record as Woodlawn, in hopes of redeeming themselves.

“We had a good week of practice to prepare for West St. John,” said Coach Luquet. “Offensively, the team looked sharp and didn’t miss many assignments. Defensively, we moved around the field well, and picked up our installs well.” Woodlawn expects to have a better outcome in upcoming games as they continue to work harder and grow stronger in every practice.

Panthers Take Early Lead, Never Look Back in Victory Over Lafayette

Sep 20, 2016

Lillian Khemmanyvong ‘17

Woodlawn defeated Lafayette Friday night for their first victory of the season by the score of 49-31.

The Panthers took an early lead when senior running back Javin Myers scored on the opening kickoff, running the ball 97 yards into the end zone. Jacob Barnes added the extra point, and Woodlawn lead the game 7-0.

The Panthers defense came out strong and held Lafayette to a fourth down, but a lightning delay postponed the game. When the game picked back up at 8:00 pm, the Panthers picked back up where they were before the delay. Lafayette elected to punt on fourth down, and the punt was blocked and recovered by Woodlawn. On 1st and 10 from the Lions’ 39-yard line, sophomore wide receiver Bryson Reaser took a pass from senior quarterback Devin Whiting and scored another touchdown for the Panthers, extending their lead to 14-0.

However, Woodlawn didn’t stop there. After an incomplete pass, Lafayette attempted a pass from their 27 yard line. The ball was tipped by junior outside linebacker Kerrington Hill and landed in the hands of junior defensive lineman Anthony Arinze, who returned the interception for the touchdown. Barnes added the extra point and the score was now 21-0.

Lafayette scored once in the first quarter, but Woodlawn did not let it phase them. In the second quarter, behind stellar play by senior defensive lineman Kendrell Shaw, the Panthers forced a fourth down. However, Lafayette faked the punt and picked up the first down. The Lions were able to score on the drive, closing the gap to 21-10.

Woodlawn was able to extend their lead when junior safety turned running back Xavier Lodge ran the ball 27 yards inside the ten yard line. Myers then took the ball and reached the endzone. Lafayette was able to score once more in the first half of the game,  making the half time score 28-17.

To start the second half, the Panthers defense held Lafayette when Shaw tackled Lafayette’s running back on the 40 yard line, followed by a flag against the home team which moved them back to the 35 yard line. On 2nd down, junior defensive lineman Kyron Mims sacked the quarterback, setting up 3rd and 17 from the 24 yard line. Senior cornerback Trey Hardnett intercepted the ball on 3rd and 17 at the 46 yard line, setting Woodlawn up in prime scoring territory.

On the next drive, key blocks made by senior offensive lineman Edward “Bubba” Ducre, senior wide receiver Eric Williams, and junior wide receiver Joshua London, gave Myers an opportunity to score a 28-yard touchdown on a screen pass from Whiting. The touchdown, Myers’ third of the night, put the Panthers ahead 35-24.

Woodlawn extended the lead when junior defensive back Braylyn Jones intercepted a pass at the Panthers’ 24 yard line and brought it back to the 28 yard line. On the first offensive play after the interception, Myers carried the ball 72 yards to make the score 49-24.

The Lions were able to score once more in mop up time, making the final score of 49-31.

Woodlawn Cheerleaders cheer the Panthers to victory.

The Panthers worked as a team to improve their week three performance. Myers led the offense with 26 carries for 187 yards and 3 touchdown, along with 2 receptions for 63 yards and a touchdown, to go with the 97 yard kick off return for the touchdown. Whiting completed 9 passes for 154 yards and 2 touchdowns. Reaser caught four passes for 60 yards was the recipient of Whiting’s other touchdown.

Safety Xavier Lodge did a little bit of everything for the Panthers Friday night.  Lodge carried the ball five times for 42 yards, caught three passes for 31 yards, and had 18 tackles from his safety position. Lodge’s partner in the defensive backfield, junior safety Jonathan Scott, had 12 tackles and 1 fumble recovery.

Throughout the game, Woodlawn never let Lafayette ahead and worked together to stay in the lead.

“We showed a lot of discipline, I’m so proud of my guys….you take care of the little things in practice, the hallways, the community, and it shows on the football field as it did tonight,” head coach Daniel Luquet said. “ I’m proud of them, I really am.”

Woodlawn will be back on the road Friday, September 23, as the Panthers travel to face undefeated St. Amant in “The Pit”. Kickoff has been moved back to 7:30 pm.

Panthers Take Early Lead, Look to Continue Improvement

Sep 13, 2016

By Lillian Khemmanyvong ‘17

The Woodlawn Panthers lost their second game of the season Friday night against the Destrehan Wildcats in a 34-7 game.

The Panthers ran out to the field for the first quarter, ready to start the game strong.

“We took the things that happened last game and learned from them. It’s a learning process; each week we’ve got to get better,” head coach Daniel Luquet said. “This is why you play an early season (schedule) before district, so you give yourself a chance to correct things and by the time you get to district, you’ll be rockin’ and rollin’.”

Woodlawn’s offense prepares for the snap against Destrehan on September 9, 2016.

Destrehan scored on the opening kickoff but missed the extra point, taking the early lead in the game by the score of 6-0. Woodlawn quickly recovered from the touchdown and pushed to hold them in the first quarter. Woodlawn’s senior running back Javin Myers carried the ball for 14 yards on the drive, although it was not enough for the Panthers to score. Despite Destrehan scoring the first touchdown, the Panthers defense fought to get the ball back. On 1st and 10 junior linebacker Shaun McCray sacked Destrehan’s quarterback Kohen Granier, preventing them from gaining a first down. The team then threw an incomplete pass on third down and resorted to punting the ball. On the next drive, Myers picked up 3 first downs and gained 65 yards on 5 carries, giving the Panthers an opportunity to take the lead. With 3:44 left in the first quarter, junior Xavier Lodge took the snap from center and scored from 6 yards out for the Panthers. Jacob Barnes added the extra point giving Woodlawn the 7-6 lead. Throughout the game the Panthers strived to hold Destrehan, but missed opportunities prevented the Panthers from keeping the lead. The Wildcats scored three more times in the first half and once in the second half.

Javin Myers carries the ball against Destrehan on September 9, 2016.

Having lost the game Friday night, there were some small victories for the team. Myers led the team with 25 carries for 146 yards. The team only committed two penalties. Although it has already been a rough start for the Panthers, it is only the second game of the season, leaving room for the team to build on their performances.

Woodlawn’s next game will be on the road, Friday September 16, against Lafayette at 7:00 pm.

Woodlawn Off to a Slow Start

Sep 5, 2016

By Lillian Khemmanyvong ‘17 

In its first game of the season, Woodlawn did not have the start it had hoped for, suffering a 41-20 loss against the Hahnville Tigers.

“We just have to start faster. That’s all it is. When we continue to start in the third quarter and teams are already up a lot on us, it’s hard to come back,” head coach Daniel Luquet said. “It’s not a sprint, it’s a marathon. We just have to continue to get better, and that starts Monday.”

Early in the third quarter, Woodlawn junior running back Joshua London had a 70-yard reception from quarterback Devin Whiting. A roughing the passer penalty against Hahnville added 13 yards to the play. On the next snap, running back Javin Myers scored on a 13-yard touchdown to cut Hahnville’s lead to 27-6.

Woodlawn senior defensive lineman Kendrell Shaw sacked Hahnville quarterback Austin Perrin as Hahnville seemed to get tired and make minor mistakes. But it did not stop the Tigers from scoring two more touchdowns, as they went up 41-6.

Sophomore WR Bryson Reaser makes a catch in traffic Friday night at Hahnville.

The Panthers pulled closer and got into scoring territory with a 34-yard run by Myers. On fourth down, Bryson Reaser caught a 10-yard touchdown pass and Jacob Barnes added the extra point to move the score to 41-13. Woodlawn was given another opportunity to score when Hahnville’s punter’s knee touched the ground while fielding a snap. With only 1:47 left in the fourth quarter, Myers broke through middle of the field for a 7-yard touchdown to make the score 41-20.

Although the scoreboard didn’t show it, the Panthers seemed to improve since the Jamboree, gaining 13 first downs and 312 total yards and only committing two penalties.

Myers finished with 17 carries for 91 yards with two touchdowns and also had three catches for 17 yards. Whiting threw for 203 yards, and London was the top receiver with 84 yards.

Woodlawn’s next game will be at home against Destrehan September 9 at 7:00 pm.

Woodlawn Stumbles in Jamboree

Aug 28, 2016

By Lillian Khemmanyvong ‘17

The Woodlawn Panthers suffered a 27-7 loss against McKinley in the East Baton Rouge Parish Football Kick-Off Classic on Friday night.

Although it was a rough night, it was only a jamboree which leaves plenty of room for improvement to prepare for the next game.

When asked what can be changed in order to perform better in the next game, Woodlawn Head Coach Daniel Luquet explained, “You can’t take your time, you can’t start slow… when that whistle blows and the ball is kicked off, you have to be ready at 7:00 not 7:15.”

When Woodlawn ran back out to the field for the second half, it was noticeable that they were ready to finish strong despite the slow start.

Javin Myers looks for running room versus McKinley.

Woodlawn only allowed McKinley to score once after halftime, then senior Javin Myers had a 51-yard run with nine yards added because of a facemask penalty to set Woodlawn up at the McKinley 9-yard line.

Junior running back Allen St Cyr had a 7-yard carry on first down and then on second down, senior quarterback Devin Whiting scrambled to the left for a 2-yard touchdown pass to sophomore wide receiver Bryant Jacob. Sophomore kicker Jacob Barnes added the extra point.

In the first half, McKinley’s Josh Quiett scored the first touchdown but the team missed the extra point and took a 6-0 lead. At one point, junior safety Xavier Lodge forced a fumble from a McKinley player but the ball bounced into the arms of wide receiver Lewis Littlejohn, who scored another touchdown for the opposing team. The Woodlawn Panthers strived to turn the game around, but the ball just didn’t seem to fall into their hands like it did for McKinley.

Xavier Lodge (2) and Shaun McCray (49) combine to bring down a McKinley ball carrier.

Woodlawn managed to come together and push towards putting themselves on the board. Woodlawn senior defensive back Trey Hardnett had a 13-yard interception, but it was not enough for Woodlawn to score as the first half ended with McKinley leading 21-0.

Although the night was difficult for the Woodlawn Panthers, the team was led by Whiting, who started at quarterback due to Brian Byrd’s unfortunate injury during a scrimmage against Live Oak.

The senior completed 60 percent of his passes and showed leadership for playing his first game as the starting quarterback.

“When he trusts himself and realizes he is as good as the guys around him, he plays well,” Coach Luquet said. “And that’s what he did, he played well after he believed in himself.”

Woodlawn’s first official game will be held at Hahnville on September 2 at 7:00pm.