Neville plows through Warren Easton in Class 4A semis
Neville is back in the Superdome for the third-straight year.
And like it could be any other way, Edna Karr will be there waiting.
Neville is back in the Superdome for the third-straight year.
And like it could be any other way, Edna Karr will be there waiting.
Neville quarterback Jaiden Cole runs the ball during the first quarter of LHSAA Class 4A semifinals ...more
Behind 149 yards rushing from quarterback Jaiden Cole, the top-ranked Tigers (13-0) dominated both lines of scrimmage and dispatched old friend Warren Easton 26-13 in the Class 4A semifinals at Bill Ruple Stadium.
Another authoritative effort from the Neville defense kept the 13-seeded Eagles (9-5) grounded with just 174 total yards and two touchdowns.
Befitting of each’s status as a 4A heavyweight, Neville and Easton spent a scoreless first quarter feeling each other out for tells of things to come.
DeMaine Riley put Neville on the board first in the second quarter by ripping off a 25-yard touchdown run through the Warren Easton defense. Special teams went the Tigers’ way on the ensuing drive when a snap sailed over the Easton punter and was recovered at the three-yard line.
Cole found the end zone on the next play behind a Neville offensive line that began asserting itself midway through the second quarter. The Easton cause wasn’t helped by eight penalties in the first half.
Quarterback Lance Legendre led Easton down the field and into the end zone with 2:35 remaining until the half. Phidarian Mathis dropped Legendre for a sack on third down, but the sophomore stayed on the field with the rest of the offense on fourth down and fired a 23-yard touchdown pass to Nick Bartholomew.
Outside of a pair of first-down runs from Cole and Josh Diarse, Neville’s offense stalled on the last drive of the half and the Tigers took a 14-7 lead to the locker room.
Neville’s defensive line terrorized Legendre and understudy Joseph Edwards from the third quarter on and sacked both quarterbacks five times.
It was over when: Will Anders shot through the Easton offensive line for a sack on fourth-and-10 that gave Neville the ball back with under four minutes to play.
Neville coach Mickey McCarty and offensive coordinator Brett Lemoine sent “Tiger Train” personnel on the field and watched as Josh Diarse ran for a game-clinching four-yard touchdown with three minutes to play.
Diarse’s run was set up by a fourth-down conversion from Cole through the air.
Ashaad Clayton’s 13-yard run gave the Eagles a touchdown with under a minute to go, but the subsequent onside kick was recovered by Neville.
Pushing the pile: Neville’s offensive line mauled its way past a sizable Easton defensive front to 231 total rushing yards. The Tigers finished with over 200 yards rushing for the fourth-straight game in the playoffs.
Protecting the house: Neville has now one 21 consecutive home playoff games in a streak dating back to 2008.
Next week: Neville faces no. 2 Edna Karr for the fourth time in six years with the Class 4A state title on the line on Saturday inside the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.
