By Jake McCoy
The DeQuincy Fighting Tigers are district champions for the first time since 2000 after beating the Vinton Lions 27-16 in the 93rd annual Big Cat Classic.
Vinton got the ball to start the game but the Tigers’ stellar defense shut down the Lions’ opening drive. It didn’t take long for the Tigers to find the end zone as DeQuincy’s fierce running attack torched the Lions 4-3-4 defensive scheme. DeQuincy got on the board early 6-0 on a 3-yard quarterback keeper by Carson Rainwater. Then in the second quarter Rainwater found tight end M.J. Clark from 13 yards out to extend the Tigers’ lead to 13-0. Vinton however did manage to find the endzone before halftime on a 27-yard scamper from Lions’ running back Jaidon Briggs. DeQuincy went into the locker room with a 13-8 halftime lead. It didn’t take long to pick up where they left off as the Tigers marched down the field quickly and capped off the drive with a 3-yard rushing touchdown from Wyatt LaVergne to make it a 20-8 deficit. DeQuincy would score one more time in the fourth quarter on a 4-yard run by Lindsey Joyce to make it 27-8 Tigers. However Vinton didn’t go away quietly as the Lions scored with just over 4 minutes left in the game on a 5-yard run by Lions’ fullback Connor Courmier to cut into the Tigers lead. DeQuincy controlled the ball and the clock after that as the Tigers escaped B. S. Walker Memorial Stadium with the win and the District 4-2A championship!
It’s also worth mentioning that this is the first time since 1991 that DeQuincy has won 9 regular season games so there’s a lot to be proud of!
Geaux Tigers!
Scoring Summary
DQ: Carson Rainwater 3 run (kick blocked)
DQ: M.J. Clark 13 pass from Rainwater (Kohen Cormier kick)
V: Jaidon Briggs 27 run (Briggs run)
DQ: Wyatt LaVergne 3 run (Cormier kick)
DQ: Lindsey Joyce 4 run (Cormier kick)
V: Connor Courmier 5 run (Briggs run)
Individual Leaders
Rushing – DeQuincy: Wyatt LaVergne 28-216, Koby Pool 4-17, Carson Rainwater 5-3, Ty LaVergne 5-20, Lindsey Joyce 1-4. Vinton: Jaidon Brigs 29-171, Jaxson Hantz 4-7, Jerryckson Gonzalez 4-14, Connor Courmier 3-30, Landon Harbert 1-6.
Passing – DeQuincy: Rainwater 6-8-0-67. Vinton: Gonzalez 2-9-0-38.
Receiving – DeQuincy: Pool 4-43, Diron Valentine 1-11, M.J. Clark 1-13. Vinton: Hantz 1-24, Courmier 1-14.
