A 4th quarter rally fell short for Hahnville at E.D. White Friday night, as the Tigers endured a 21-18 loss in their final pre-district game.
It was a heartbreaker for Hahnville (1-1), who appeared to be staggered on the ropes after a E.D. White touchdown run by Landon Babin to start the fourth quarter made it 21-10 -a tough 11-point deficit to climb back from on a night the Tigers struggled offensively.
But on the ensuing drive, Hahnville rushers Calvin Smith and Fabian Celestine got loose for nice gains before Landen Teague’s 31-yard touchdown pass to Lance Marshall resurrected Hahnville’s chances. That touchdown, along with Smith’s ensuing two-point conversion run, pulled HHS within three, 21-18, with 8:54 left in the game.
The Tigers defense loaded up to stop the Veer rushing attack of the Cardinals in an attempt to get the ball back. And it appeared that was exactly what happened, after a stop short of the sticks left E.D. White with what would have been a 4th-and-3 on its side of the field.
But Hahnville was whistled for unsportsmanlike conduct, and the E.D. White drive was extended. The Cardinals would not give back the ball again – Hahnville was out of timeouts and E.D. White finished the game at Hahnville’s 1 before kneeling the clock out.
“They did a great job. 100 percent, we got out coached. That’s the first thing and maybe the last thing,” said Hahnville head coach Greg Boyne. “We weren’t prepared as far as getting our personnel on and off the field. We made silly mistakes. Every little thing that could go against us did, and in a close game, you usually lose those.”
The unsportsmanlike conduct penalty was assessed for taunting.
“A silly penalty, which we can’t have,” Boyne said. “There was talking back and forth … you would hope that it wouldn’t get called with the game on the line, but it is what it is, part of the learning process.
“You’re trying to beat a good team, you get the stop you need at the end … frustrating, again. It’s on us. We’re all learning at the same time. It’s part of the fun, but it’s also frustrating when you have a chance to beat a team like this on the road.”
E.D. White saw what was a 17-game regular season winning streak snapped by Jesuit last week. The Cardinals’ run defense seemed to take it personally. E.D. White gave Hahnville very little room to run all night, and a defensive battle ensued with heavy emphasis on field position.
“They were prepared. They knew we wanted to run CJ (Smith) inside and they took that away. The runs that he broke, he cut outside … you can tell (E.D. White) have played in a lot of big games, and we’re just starting to. That was the first one a lot of these kids have played in. That’s part of it,” Boyne said.
Reece Lafont and Benjamin Rodrigue also scored rushing touchdowns for E.D. White (2-1) on the night.
Hahnville scored its first touchdown when safety Jacob Jeffrey made a scoop and score fumble return in the first half.
“You could see the whole sideline get up from it … I’m proud of the kids. That play, other plays, even all the way to the end at the goal line – we fought,” Boyne said. “I thought we played physical. I thought we got out-physicaled at times, but I thought we played physical. And I thought we completed, from the opening play to the last whistle.”
