Second half turnovers spell defeat for Hahnville in opening week

It was the start Hahnville wanted early on in its battle with Newman Friday night, but a nightmarish third quarter rendered it short lived.  

The Tigers led 14-7 after the first quarter. But after Newman took a 20-14 halftime lead, the Greenies returned two turnovers for touchdowns in the midst of four unanswered touchdowns en route to an eventual 41-21 victory in New Orleans.  

“Penalties and turnovers. We talked about it this week – the team that was dedicated to the details and trusting the process, and the team that worked the hardest was going to win the football game. We turned the ball over,” said Hahnville head coach Daniel Luquet. “We gave up points off of turnovers. We had crucial penalties. It’s signs of a young team, but we have to get back to the drawing board. Just sloppy. Sloppy across the board.” 

Newman’s Eli Friend threw three touchdown passes in the win. Hahnville’s Calvin Smith rushed for two scores. 

Hahnville (0-1) got on the scoreboard early on Smith’s 5-yard touchdown run, giving HHS a 7-0 lead in the first quarter.  

Newman (1-0) tied the game on Friend’s first touchdown pass, hauled in over the top by Peter Loop to make it 7-7.  

Hahnville quarterback Ryan Gregson answered, connecting with Dyron Lorio for a 24-yard touchdown pass to push the Tigers ahead by a touchdown again.  

But Newman hung tough, and kicker Jacob Dusansky was true to cap a pair of possessions with field goals, bringing the Greenies within one, 14-13.  

A Newman defensive stop opened the door for Friend and Loop to connect again, pushing Newman ahead 20-14 with 1:45 left in the second quarter. The Greenies threatened again after a Parker Davis interception, but Hahnville made a needed stop just before halftime.  

Things fell apart for Hahnville from there.  

Newman scored on its first possession of the second half, Friend firing to Journey Manson to make it 27-14.  

Then Robert Kerrigan picked off a Gregson pass and returned it for a touchdown to make it a 34-14 lead. On the very next possession, Newman’s Brandon Favrot scooped and scored on a fumble generated by a sack, making it 41-14 – suddenly, the game was all but over.  

Hahnville added another touchdown from Smith in the game’s late stages. 

“We challenged our kids – you have to play physical if you’re going to beat a team like Hahnville,” said Newman head coach Nelson Stewart. “Our defense hit. We ran the football. Eli Friend was fantastic … the o-line picked everything up. Jacob Dusansky kicking the ball … we have so much respect for Hahnville. I think the world of Daniel Luquet and we thought they were a far superior team than they were last year. Their quarterback, their linemen, they were physical. We have so much respect for Hahnville. This is a whale of a win, a fantastic program win.”