Waco La Vega has little trouble against Lake Worth in bi-district blowout
The only time that Waco La Vega didn’t score in Thursday’s Class 4A Division 1 Region 2 bi-district playoff game against Lake Worth was when it took a series of knees to run out the game clock in the fourth quarter.
The Pirates scored touchdowns on each of their first nine possessions and outgained the Bullfrogs 382 to 44 in a 61-0 rout at Lumpkins Stadium.
La Vega (9-2) received three rushing touchdowns on just four carries from senior John Richards on runs of 23 yards, 17 and 17, as the Pirates built a commanding 34-0 lead after the first quarter.
After Josh Hamilton caught a 54-yard touchdown pass from Ara Rauls III on the fourth play of the game’s initial possession for La Vega, the Pirates defense forced the first of three turnovers of the game on the ensuing drive, with Jared Rogers catching a deflected pass that was batted in the air by teammate Quintaveon Mason. Two plays later, Jar’Quae Walton rushed for a 15-yard TD and a 14-0 Pirates lead.
Rauls III completed 5-of-11 passes for 111 yards and added an 8-yard rushing touchdown in just one half of action as the La Vega starters watched from the sidelines during the second half.
A running clock was used after Richards’ third TD of the first half put La Vega in front 48-0 with 7:03 left in the second quarter.
Lake Worth was held to just two first downs with its first conversion coming on an 8-yard catch-and-run play between quarterback Caleb Welch and Mason Ryan with 2:15 left in the second quarter.
Twenty-six of the Bullfrogs’ 44 total yards of offense came on a 26-yard inside run by Isaac Ehrich in the second half.
Offensive player of the game: Richards set the tone for a big night for the Pirates with his three first-half touchdowns. La Vega didn’t punt once.
Defensive player of the game: There will so many La Vega players that could have earned this honor, but will give it to senior linebacker Jared Rogers, whose first-quarter interception of Lake Worth sophomore quarterback Caleb Welch led to the Pirates’ second touchdown.
Unsung hero of the game: La Vega senior defensive back Quintaveon Mason created the interception for Rogers by using his hands to deflect the pass into the air.
It was over when: Pirates sophomore quarterback Ara Rauls III ran the option for an 8-yard TD with 5:03 remaining in the first quarter for a 28-0 lead. The play was set up by a fumble on a kickoff return by Lake Worth deep inside Bullfrogs territory.
What’s next? La Vega will play the winner of tonight’s game between Alvarado (5-5) and Melissa (7-3) next week in the area round of the playoffs. Lake Worth’s season is over.