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By Scott Meyer

For the Daily News

The Bayou Lacombe Cardinals started fast and never looked back in a 44-0 victory over the Crescent City Rampage.

The Cardinals received the opening kickoff and set up their first drive near midfield at their 47-yard line. It took the Cardinals eight plays to drive 53 yards for the early score. Quarterback Denizel Ladner (Covington High School) connected with wide receiver Arthur Ashton (Hammond High Magnet School) for an eight-yard touchdown pass. After kicker Lance Foster (Duncanville High) added the extra point, Bayou Lacombe led 7-0.

On Crescent City’s ensuing possession, the Rampage was forced to punt after three unsuccessful plays. After an errant punt attempt, the Cardinals were set up at the Rampage 26. On third-and-10 from the 26 Ladner hit wide receiver Justin Foy (Warren Easton Charter High School) on a 26 yard scoring strike. After a missed extra point, the Cardinals led 13-0 with 5:29 remaining in the first.

Crescent City took over their next possession at their 41-yard line, but that good field position didn’t last long. The Rampage was hit with a personal foul penalty and defensive end Teddy Conrad (Fontainebleau High School) sacked Crescent City quarterback Craydell Vernon for an 11-yard loss. The sack and two incomplete passes forced another Rampage punt.

The Cardinals then went on an six-play 76-yard drive which was capped off when Ladner hooked up with wide receiver Mark Mornay (Pope John Paul II) from 24 yards out. After a successful Foster kick, Bayou Lacombe was ahead 20-0 with 14:02 remaining in the second.

The Cardinals would score one more time before the half on a two-yard touchdown run by running back Jeremy Griffin (St. Helena College and Career Academy) with eight seconds left on the second quarter clock.

Bayou Lacombe’s defense was the focal point in the first half in limiting the Rampage to just 22 yards of total offense on 20 plays.

Crescent City received the second-half kickoff taking over at the 33-yard line. On second and long the Cardinals defense would step up once again. Cardinals linebacker William Cummings (Block High School ) stepped in front of a Vernon pass for the interception.

The turnover created excellent field position at the Rampage 29. Two plays later, running back Lawrence Robinson bulldozed his way into the end zone from eight yards out. Foster’s extra point put Bayou Lacombe ahead 34-0 with 12:31 in the third. Robinson is from Franklinton High School.

On Bayou Lacombe’s ensuing the possession kicker Donald Gonzales (Rutherford High) connected on a 30 yard field goal with 29 seconds left in the third.

Bayou Lacombe’s final score of the evening came on a six-play, 77-yard drive. The drive ended with Ladner’s fourth touchdown pass of the evening. Wide receiver Xavier Chatman (Lakeshore High School) was the recipient of the 16-yard touchdown toss late in the contest. Chatman would lead all eight-pass catchers with two receptions for 54 yards.

Ladner finished the evening 11-of-22 for 182 yards and his four-touchdown passes. Griffin led the Cardinal’s rushers with 58 yards on six carries.

Defensively, Isame Faciane (Salmen High School) led with six tackles and relentless pressure on the Vernon and backup signal caller Raymond Jackson.

Linebacker Casterdale Collier (Hammond High Magnet) followed Faciane with five tackles. Conrad, and defensive backs Corey Turner (Miller Mccoy) and James Salvant (Salmen) each had each tackles.

Crescent City was limited to 80 yards total offense with running back Dorsha Evans leading the way with 53 yards on 12 carries.

All APDFL teams were off Easter weekend.

The Cardinals will return home on Saturday to face the Mississippi Dynasty at the Slidell Youth Football Association fields. The Dynasty have won the league’s last three championships.

Fans attending the game can get $1 off their ticket by bringing a non-perishable food item. The limit is five, so patrons can get up to $5 off of their ticket.