WHITE OAK PICKS UP BIG WIN | Ludlow accounts for five TDs in 48-13 victory at Sabine
By JEREMY NEWLIN
LIBERTY CITY – Jaxsen Ludlow and the White Oak Roughnecks went to visit Sabine High School at James Bamberg stadium Friday night, the renewal of an old rivalry between the ‘Necks and the Cardinals.
Ludlow was impressive, rushing for three touchdowns and throwing two, as White Oak jumped out to a 22-0 lead and finished with a 48-13 win, halting a two-game losing skid and throwing their names back into the District 8-3A, Division I playoff hunt.
White Oak moves to 5-2 on the season, and 1-2 in district play, with three games left: at home against Liberty-Eylau this coming Friday; at Tatum on Nov. 1; and at home against Gladewater on Nov. 8.
For Sabine, getting into the UIL Class 3A playoffs now will be tough: the loss dropped the Cardinals to 0-4 in district, but with only two games left. Sabine hasn’t had its open date, which it takes on Nov. 1.
The Cards play at state-ranked Jefferson this coming Friday, and then host Liberty-Eylau in the regular season finale on Nov. 8.
Sabine took a short kickoff to open the game against the ‘Necks. Quarterback Hudson McNatt found Cole Loveless for a 7-yard gain, followed by a 7-yard run by McNatt. But White Oak would force a punt, and Sabine would return the favor.
On the Cardinals’ next drive, McNatt found an opening and went 21 yards on the first play, but that was all they were able to get as they again turned it over on downs.
Once again, the Roughnecks’ offense was stopped, too.
A fumble led to White Oak’s first score. Two quick carries by Levi Sipes gave the ‘Necks 10, then 8 yards.
Ludlow found Brayden Bratcher on an 18-yard throw. Sipes then rattled off another 20 and Ludlow capped off the drive with a 2-yard touchdown. He added the two-point conversion, putting the Roughnecks up 8-0.
They would get the ball back after holding the Cardinals’ offense and forcing a punt. The snap went over the punter’s head, though, and was downed at the 2-yard-line. Sipes took the handoff and punched it in for the score. Brady Prazak added the extra point, and quickly, White Oak had a 15-0 lead.
Before the quarter ended, the Cardinals were moving down field. Facing third down at the 8-yard line, McNatt’s pass was intercepted by Trevor Sizemore. White Oak took the drive into the second quarter.
Ludlow started the quarter by finding Tyson McKinney for 13 yards, then the quarterback ran for 11.
After a personal foul backed the Roughnecks up, Ludlow found Bratcher for a 48-yard touchdown and a 22-0 lead.
The Cardinal offense sustained a nine-play drive. McNatt ran for 11 and passed for 10 to Terry Vanden.
Facing a third-and-11, McNatt’s pass was tipped by Vanden, and it fell into the arms of teammate Lincoln Royce for a 16-yard touchdown. The extra point cut the lead for the Necks to 22-7.
In the final moments of the first half, White Oak got a 40-yard run by Ludlow, but the Cardinal defense held and forced a field goal try. Sabine’s Charles Gipson was able to get his paws up and block the kick, keeping the score at 22-7 at halftime.
The ‘Necks opened the second half with a spectacular 50-yard return by Jacob Sorgee. Ludlow then found Sipes for 10 yards, and he then ran for 10. Sipes went the final 5 for the score, upping the lead to 29-7.
On the Cards next possession, Kelton Cates would recover a Sabine fumble. Tysen McClain snagged a Ludlow pass for 8 yards, and Sipes plowed through to the 10-yard line. On the next play, though, the ball was stripped and Gipson recovered for the Cards.
On the first play from scrimmage, McNatt kept the ball and went to the right, going 90 yards for a Cardinal score. Cardinal kicker Jovany Jaimes was hurt early in the quarter, so the Cardinals went for two and were unsuccessful, leaving the score at 29-13.
Sipes rattled off 22 and 11 yards as White Oak plowed right back on its next drive. Ludlow found Dillon Sanchez over the middle for the touchdown. The missed extra point left the score at 35-12 at the end of the three quarters.
The Cardinals went three-and-out to start the fourth quarter. With Jaimes hurt, it was a short punt, giving the ‘Necks only 37 yards of turf to travel.
It wouldn’t take long.
Ludlow broke free and bolted all 37 yards at once for the score. The conversion failed, leaving White Oak with a 41-13 lead.
Sabine got a 32-yard run on its next possession by Jeremiah Flanagan. A personal foul moved them back, and McNatt then went 25 yards to the WO 15.
On what seemed like a McNatt to Royce touchdown, the joy was short-lived as the refs threw 2 flags and were confused for 10 minutes. The result was no touchdown and 20 yards in penalties on the Cardinals.
The Cardinals turned the ball over on downs and White Oak marched down the field for one more score: Ludlow went in from 8 yards. The added extra point gave the Roughnecks a 48-13 win.
The Cardinals were led by McNatt, who had 151 yards rushing and 58 yards passing and one score passing and one rushing. Royce had 20 yards receiving and a score.
White Oak was led by Ludlow with 133 yards on the ground and 174 through the air. He rushed for three touchdowns, and threw for two more. Sipes added 123 on the ground. Bratcher had 115 receiving yards and a score.