Never leading the entire game, the Lafayette High Mighty Lions had the opportunity to steal their season opener from the visiting Peabody Warhorses. But their own self-inflicted wounds kept them from getting the Rob Pool era off to a winning start.

On their first possession of the game, the Mighty Lions attempted a 68-yard field goal that was blocked and returned by the Warhorses down to the LHS 21-yard line. Four plays later and bruising running back Bruce Price put PHS on the board and the Warhorses led 7-0 early on.

Midway through the opening quarter, LHS responded though, as sophomore quarterback Brennan Broussard hit senior wide receiver Jalen Singleton on a post route, which cut the PHS lead to 7-6 with 5:29 left in the 1st quarter.

Nearly three minutes later, after the two teams traded possessions, Jameer Washington raced 80 yards to put the Warhorses up 14-6.

In the second quarter, Peabody began controlling the clock with its physical offense. Price, a senior with a 6'1" 235 pound frame, was instrumental in that, capping off another successful drive with another rushing touchdown to put his team up 20-6, which would hold until halftime.

As the 3rd quarter wore on, the Mighty Lion defense began to show its grit, at times bending but not breaking against a Warhorse offense that featured the power of Price, the speed of Washington, and a quarterback in Talon Bowers who was a threat anytime he ran with the ball. Then, they just began to shut down that potent offense, even as its own offense continued to sputter, turn the ball over, and commit tough penalties.

In the 4th quarter, a bad snap resulted in a safety which cut Peabody's lead to 20-8. Then, the Mighty Lions offense came alive as Broussard hooked up with Singleton again for a 51-yard touchdown as Broussard dropped the pass in over two defenders and Singleton outran the defenders the rest of the way. After the extra point by senior kicker Lane Perrin, the Mighty Lions pulled to within 5,

With nearly half of the 4th quarter left, the Lions had time to overcome the 20-15 deficit. The defense did its part in forcing a punt, which was mishandling by the LHS returner, resulting in a turnover and lost time for LHS to make its comeback.

Eventually, Peabody held on (even though they turned the ball over trying to run out the clock when they could have kneeled the ball to win) and handed Lafayette High an 0-1 record to start the year.

Next week, LHS will look to get notch their first win of the 2016 season when they host the Opelousas Tigers (0-1) as part of their 5-game homestand to start the season. You can listen to the game on the home of the Lafayette High Mighty Lions, Newstalk 96.5 FM KPEL, as Ian Auzenne (play-by-play) and Brandon Comeaux (color) will have the call.

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