The Westgate Tigers added their second blowout win in as many weeks, defeating North Vermilion 56-7 at home to move to 5-2 on the season. 

Last week, the Tigers showed signs of settling into the realities of a season plagued with injuries as underclassmen showed improvement in the 59-14 victory over Rayne. At Thursday night’s homecoming game, the pieces all seemed to fall into place. 

For Randall Antoine, a longtime coach for the Tigers who is in his first season as Offensive Coordinator, the successes the team is seeing now began months ago. 

“We had a ton of injuries earlier in the year, but really it was more of a mental hurdle,” Antoine explained. “We gave our guys a ton of reps all throughout the summer and the spring and we did a great job at creating a lot of depth. Now that hard work is coming to fruition.”

That depth was crucial for several positions, none more important than quarterback. With starting QB Jaboree Antoine and backup QB Bryant Leon Jr. both out with knee injuries, the team turned to several different players to try to find the right fit. While seniors Tavias Gordon (running back) and Davian Jackson (wide receiver) both saw snaps at the position, the emergence of freshmen gunslingers Brock Mitchell Jr. and Cayden Lancelin has returned the team to its natural rhythm. 

“We have a really versatile team, our guys can play multiple different positions on both sides of the ball,” said Antoine. “We can put our best 11 guys on the field in a bunch of different packages, but having a true quarterback step into that position kind of allows everyone else to just take a deep breath and play to their natural skill sets.”

Against North Vermilion, Mitchell shined, completing nine of 12 passes for 252 yards and two touchdowns. 

Senior TE Gavin Hebert was Mitchell’s preferred target. Hebert ended the game with 157 receiving yards and one touchdown from four catches, plus an additional 38 yards and one touchdown on the ground. 

Hebert has been a rare target for Westgate so far this season, but with a new quarterback in place and opposing defenses keying in on some of the Tigers’ other players, Hebert was able to find space to shine. 

“Whenever you lose quarterbacks and you have guys playing outside of their normal spots, sometimes touches get locked in on certain individuals,” Antoine explained. “Gavin is a dynamic player and he’s one of my favorite players that I’ve coached, both on the field and off the field. He’s an all-time great teammate and person and he comes from a great family, too.”

Joining Hebert on the scoreboard was senior WR Davian Jackson, a Mississippi State commit, who played a big part in the Tigers’ ground game. Jackson rushed for 81 yards and scored two touchdowns from eight carries, adding 41 yards through the air. 

Antoine said that Jackson was a perfect example of the kind of versatile, next-man-up style of coaching that he wants to instill at Westgate. 

“That’s what I wanted to bring to the team, that’s my brand. We All Make Plays and We Ain’t Most People. We all bring different talents to the table, but when we bring them together collectively, it makes it hard for defenses. For example, Diamond (Davian Jackson) lines up outside of the numbers, on the hash (marks), in the back field, we snap it to him and he takes kick returns.” 

Jackson was the first to score on Thursday, finding the endzone after a 16-yard rush. Senior DB Trandin Benjamin added a second touchdown in the first quarter, scoring off a one-yard rush with 2:09 remaining in the quarter. A two-point conversion by Gavin Hebert improved Westgate’s lead to 14.

The Tigers scored four more times before the halftime break. Davian Jackson scored his second rushing touchdown of the night with 8:07 left in the quarter. Three minutes later, Hebert secured a pitch from senior RB Tavias Gordon for a 36-yard rushing touchdown. The Patriots got their only points of the game when Preston Bagwell broke containment and marched upfield for an 81-yard touchdown run. Less than a minute later, Hebert scored his second of the night, a 50-yard receiving touchdown from an inch-perfect pass from freshman Brock Mitchell. 

A five-yard rushing touchdown by Tavias Gordon with 30 seconds left in the half gave Westgate a commanding lead at the break. Touchdowns from Amarin Simon (15-yard rush) and Cayden Lancelin (16-yard reception) began the running clock and sealed the 56-7 win.

Senior LB Dy’Traevous Lively led the team in tackles with six, followed closely by freshman DL Chance Archangel with five. Archangel also added two fumble recoveries to his tally. Senior LB Amari Simon recorded one interception for a 19-yard return. 

At halftime, Westgate crowned the 2024 Homecoming Queen. Riley Grace Antoine, daughter of Ms. Onshella Antoine and Mr. Ryan Antoine was named 2nd Maid, Tristen Arie Dupas, daughter of Ms. Trashayla Davis and Mr. Gregory Dupas was named 1st Maid, and Nastarie Chamonte Boutte, daughter of Ms. Natandre Richard and Mr. Joseph Boutte, was crowned Queen. 

The Tigers will return to action next week for the final home contest of the 2024 regular season against Northside (3-4, 1-2). Westgate will end the regular season on the road against District 4-4A newcomer Comeaux (0-7, 0-4). 

The win against North Vermilion moved the Tigers to the No. 23 seed in Non-Select Division I. Should the Tigers remain at No. 17 or above, they will face a road game for the opening round of the playoffs.