Brusly takes share of title

• By DAMIAN FOLEY
• Special to The Advocate
• Published: Nov 7, 2009

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BRUSLY — Something had to give in the 39th Sugar Cane Classic between Port Allen and Brusly high schools Friday night.

Port Allen came into the game fresh off a loss to Jennings but armed with the knowledge it had not lost back-to-back games all year.

On the other sideline, the Panthers, winners of four of the last five meetings between the two schools, were looking to close the season with an undefeated mark at home.

What gave was Port Allen’s defense, worn down by the lopsided number of plays, as the Panthers (7-3, 3-1 in 8-3A) escaped with a 28-22.

The win gave Brusly (7-3, 3-1) a share of the district title with St. James. The Pelicans fell to 5-5 and 2-2.

“The kids played hard all year,” Brusly coach Tait Dupont said. “When Port Allen beat St. James, that gave us the opportunity. We went out and executed and won the ballgame.”

Brusly had two 100-yard rushers on the night. Marlon Reed carried the ball 27 times for 119 yards and two touchdowns, and Brent Henry rushed 20 times for 104 yards.

The Pelicans were led by Devin Payne, whose nine carries went for 114 yards and two scores.

The Panthers struck first late in the first quarter when Cole Prejean rolled out to his right from 8 yards out and found Darrius Jackson in the front corner of the end zone.

It took the Panthers until 1:41 remained in the first half to score again, when the home team doubled its lead with a 30-yard touchdown pass from Prejean to Colby Craig on fourth-and-25.

Craig caught the pass 10 yards from pay dirt, and beat three tacklers on his way to the end zone.

Port Allen got on the board with 17 seconds remaining in the half on Payne’s 23-yard touchdown.

Buoyed by the momentum of his first-half score, Payne gave Port Allen its first lead of the night on the first play from scrimmage in the second half, taking the handoff at the Pelicans’ 46-yard-line and running around the right side for a 54-yard touchdown.