Big plays from Westgate QB Jordan Doucet handed the STM Cougars their fourth loss of the season to the Tigers 41-13
Both teams played with inexperienced quarterbacks. STM lost Walker Howard, the number one QB in the nation, last week to injury and Westgate’s Doucet was named the starter in week two of the season.
Doucet threw for three touchdowns and ran for another to help improve the Tigers to 5-1 on the season.
STM rotated a two-QB system in sophomores Sam Altman and Will Taylor with Altman getting the start.
Altman completed a 33-yard pass, but the drive stalled with a turnover on downs. Westgate wasted no time with a 68-yard touchdown pass from Doucet to receiver Danny Lewis.
Taylor started the second drive for the Cougars and led them down to the redzone after converting a 4th-down pass but threw an interception in the endzone.
“I thought our young quarterbacks stepped in and did a competent job and they are going to learn from this experience and be better next week,” said STM coach Tim Hightower.
“I was pretty proud of the effort our kids gave. I thought that with the score getting lopsided our kids stayed in the game and fought.”
The Tigers went up 14-0 on the ensuing drive after another TD pass from Doucet.
One of the most controversial you’ll see in football happened on the ensuing kickoff; STM received the kick and pitched the ball backwards five yards as the returner ran the ball into the endzone for a touchdown.
But the officials threw a flag for an illegal forward pass to overturn the play.
“The officials called a forward pass,” said Hightower. “It didn’t look like it to me.”
After the disagreement’s, the Cougars marched down the field and scored on a 10-yard run from running back Jack Stefanski that cut it 14-7.
Stefanski and the Cougars were able to run the ball well all night, but the offense just couldn’t convert in key situations in the red zone.
Doucet responded with a 10-yard TD run of his own extended the lead 21-7. The Tigers missed a field goal before halftime after a big defensive stop for the Cougars.
Knowing their defense needed help, STM attempted an onside kick to start the second half but failed. Doucet threw his third scoring pass of the game to Lewis that made it 28-7.
Stefanski popped a 21-yard run on the ensuing drive, but the Cougars had a turnover on downs for the third time of the night.
The game was out of hand with 7:21 left in the 3rd quarter after a 76-yard run by Westgate made it 34-7.
STM is now 2-4 on the season and 0-1 in district play with their next game at Teurlings Catholic.