By Shawn C. White, Special to The Press-Herald
The Patterson Lumberjacks’ mascot must have conjured some old Springhill Lumberjacks spirit as the North Webster Knights cut down their competition with defense and allowed their opponent to get past midfield only once all night.
The result was a 42-0 victory Friday night in the first round of the non-select Division III playoffs at Baucum-Farrar Stadium.
North Webster (7-4), the No. 14 seed, will travel to Vacherie to face No. 3 St. James (8-2) in the second round Friday. St. James had a bye in the first round.
Patterson, the No. 19 seed, finished 3-7.
The North Webster defense snagged two interceptions and had seven tackles for loss.
The Knights found success where only four other teams in Northwest Louisiana could by winning a first-round game.
Braedon Robertson helped the situation with 16 carries for 152 yards and a touchdown in three quarters.
Tutt McGlothen added two quarterback keepers to the end zone for the Knights. J’Kobe Lawson added a special teams touchdown along with another rushing touchdown.
North Webster’s first TD came on a 12-play, 63-yard drive during which the Knights overcame 20 penalty yards.
McGlothen broke into Lumberjacks territory on a 16-yard run.
The Knights reached the red zone on the back of McGlothen again with runs of 17 yards and 11 yards. It was only fitting that McGlothen ended the drive with a 2-yard quarterback keeper.
North Webster led 6-0 at the end of the first quarter.
The Lumberjacks had a tough time in containing McGlothen on back-to-back runs of 20 and 10 yards.
Robertson got into the action with a 15-yard run and then the Knights were threatening to score again as they reached the red zone. McGlothen reached the end zone once again crashing in on a 2-yard run.
McGlothen not only made his presence known on offense but swiped an interception on the next drive, giving the Knights possession on the Patterson 29.
The Patterson defense stymied the Knights, though, as they gave up possession on downs.
The North Webster defense made the Lumberjacks punt for the third time in the first half. Lawson found an opening and carried the punt return 55 yards for a touchdown.
North Webster carried a 21-0 lead into the locker room at halftime.
The first drive of the second half by the Lumberjacks cracked midfield. Patterson’s only success on offense seemed to be short-field screen passes of less than 10 yards. The Lumberjacks reached the North Webster 38 but turned it over on downs.
North Webster made them pay for breaching midfield. McGlothen connected with Martavion White on a 35-yard pass. Lawson bolted downfield on a 27-yard touchdown and a 28-0 lead.
Robertson got the big plays later in the third quarter on back-to-back runs of 26 and 25 yards. He finished the drive on a 12-yard run to push the lead to 35-0.
The Knights defense struck again as Jeremiah Washington made an interception, giving North Webster possession on the Patterson 23.
One play on the next drive saw McGlothen give White his due on a wide-open 23-yard touchdown pass giving the Knights the 42-0 lead and a running clock for the remainder of the game.