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By Scott Meyer

Special to the Daily News

The Bayou Lacombe Cardinals were defeated by the Mississippi Dynasty, 42-12, last Saturday in Pearl, Miss.

The Dynasty received the opening kickoff and returned the kick 91 yards to the Cardinals’ 4-yard line. Bayou Lacombe’s defense stiffened and the Dynasty turned the ball over on downs after three unsuccessful running plays and an Incomplete pass.

After forcing a Bayou Lacombe punt, the Dynasty offense was set up in good field position at the Cardinals 40. Mississippi scored on a 14-yard pass from quarterback Lesteven Jackson to wide receiver Kelvin Burns to cap off the 7 play 40 yard drive. After a failed two-point conversion, the Dynasty led 6-0 with 6:30 remaining in the first quarter.

With the Cardinals offense stuck in neutral for most of the first half, Mississippi took advantage of good field position throughout the half.

The Dynasty scored on a one play 47-yard drive when Jackson connected with wide receiver Rotavious Thurman and came right back on their ensuing drive with Jackson and Burns scoring from 29 yards out to increase their lead to 18-0 with 12:18 remaining in the second.

Mississippi would add to their lead just before the break when Jackson connected with Thurman for 23 yards and wide receiver Lecorey Tucker on a 30-yard touchdown pass as time expired.

Bayou Lacombe received the second half kickoff and went on a eight-play, 53-yard drive to the Dynasty 5, but turned the ball over on downs. On first down, Jackson fumbled with Bayou Lacombe’s Stephan Jackson (Independence High School) recovering at the Dynasty 2. After a Cardinals penalty, quarterback Jervious Epherson (Northshore High School) hit wide receiver Darrin Arline (Independence High Magnet School) on a 7-yard scoring strike. After an unsuccessful 2 point conversion attempt, Bayou Lacombe trailed 24-6.

Mississippi came right back on their ensuing possession, driving 89 yards on eight plays. The drive was capped off with a Jackson to Thurman 25 yard touchdown pass. The Dynasty failed on their conversion attempt leaving the score 30-6 with 2:50 remaining in the third.

Bayou Lacombe looked to answer the Dynasty driving into Dynasty territory with Epherson hitting wide receiver Markus Conerly at the 40 yard line, but lost control of the ball with defensive back O’Keefe Henderson recovering the loose ball and raced 60 yards down the visiting sideline to increase the Dynasty lead to 36-6 with 12:29 left in the fourth quarter after a failed two-point conversion attempt. Conerly went to Franklinton High School.

Bayou Lacombe took advantage of a Dynasty fumble that was recovered by defensive end Justin Foy (Warren Easton Charter High School) at the Mississippi 21. The Cardinals needed three plays to get on the scoreboard. Epherson hit wide receiver Arthur Ashton (Hammond High Magnet School) on an 11-yard scoring pass with 5:24 left in the contest.

Mississippi scored on their final possession of the game with their backs against the wall. Quarterback Adrian Moore hit wide receiver Jarren Mallory on a 97-yard scoring pass on broken coverage in the Cardinals secondary increasing the Dynasty lead to 42-12 after a failed two-point conversion attempt.

Epherson finished the evening completing 17-of-38 passing attempts for 166 yards.

Wide receiver Xavier Chatman led all Cardinals receivers with 70 yards on four catches.

Jackson ended his night with an impressive completing 14-of-18 passes for 306 yards. Mallory led all Dynasty receivers, ending his night with 191 yards on four catches.

Mississippi will face the Crescent City Kings on Saturday night. The Cardinals will return to action on May 21 for their final regular season game at home against the South Alabama Dolphins.