The Comeaux High Spartans opened district play with a thrilling 31-29 win over the Lafayette High Lions in a game decided by turnovers and two-point conversions. Both teams are now 2-2 on the season.
A sloppy start for both squads as Comeaux ended their first drive on four penalties and a punt while LHS fumbled on their second play of the game.
CHS capitalized with a Sean Malveaux touchdown pass to running back Treyven Paddio making it 7-0. Paddio ended the night 73 yards rushing and a score.
The teams traded scores for the rest of the first half with LHS responding with a 22-yard scoring pass from Grason Saunier to make it 7-7. Spartans’ QB Malveaux threw a 75-yard score to Alex Linzer making it 14-7.
The Lions converted on two fourth downs – including a 15-yard run on a fake punt – on the ensuing drive that ended in a 1-yard run in by Saunier to make it 14-13 CHS.
The game changed in Lafayette High’s favor when Comeaux fumbled on their own 10-yard line that led to another Saunier score and a two-point conversion as the Lions took a 21-14 lead at halftime.
LHS opened the second half with a 7-minute drive that ended in a missed field goal. CHS took advantage of the field position as QB Malveaux hit a 22-yard and 33-yard passes to set up a Paddio TD run. But the Spartans extra point was blocked keeping them down 21-20. Malveaux threw for 278 yards on the game.
The Lions lost a fumble on their first play of the ensuing drive before the end of the third quarter. Malveaux kept it on a 17-yard read option putting the Spartans up 28-21 after a two-point try to start the 4th quarter.
Lafayette’s Tim Wilson responded with seven broken tackles on a spectacular 62-yard touchdown run making it 29-28 LHS with a two-point conversion with 10 minutes left in the game.
Comeaux coach Eric Holden gathered his team after that play.
“I told them don’t worry about one score,” Holden said. “I knew we could do it. I knew we were prepared and I knew we could get it done.”
Malveaux responded to his coaches advise with big run of his own, scrambling for 41 yards into LHS territory. Comeaux had to settle for a field goal making it 31-29 with 5:49 left in the game.
In their final drive of the game, LHS was stopped by Comeaux’s defense on 4th-and-1 at midfield with three minutes left to play. CHS ran out the clock to seal the victory.