Northwest plays spoiler on Homecoming at Lafayette

It’s been an interesting season to say the least for the Lafayette Ramblers, a season already full of strange statistical anomalies.

Another one was added to the list on Friday.

Despite losing four fumbles and seeing another fumble go through the endzone for a touchback, the visiting Northwest Whitfield Bruins used a couple of big plays and a tremendous defensive effort to down the Ramblers, 36-14, spoiling Homecoming at Jack King Stadium.

The Bruins got 226 yards in the air (17-of-27), a touchdown pass and a touchdown run from quarterback Ty Fisher, while a steady dose of the running game in the second half opened up what had been a one-point lead at intermission.

The Bruins ( 4- 2, 1- 1) caught an early break when a 33-yard Lafayette touchdown pass on the fifth play from scrimmage was negated by a holding penalty. The Ramblers were forced to punt and the Bruins went to work from their own 11-yard line.

Despite two penalties of their own on the drive, Northwest marched 89 yards. Matthew Redmond caught Lafayette offguard with a 16-yard run on a fourth-down fake punt near midfield, which set up battering ram running back Dominique Sistrunk’s bruising 30-yard touchdown gallop to give the Bruins the lead.

However, Lafayette (4-3, 1- 2) would answer as a 44-yard third-down catch by Austin Rodgers led to a 14-yard touchdown pass from Vyshonn Daniel to Andrew Pendergrass with 3:06 left in the first quarter. Max Studdard’s extrapoint would knot the score at seven apiece.

Lafayette would hold on fourth down at their own 42, but was forced to punt it away shortly thereafter. However, Landon Rayburn would jump on a Redmond fumble at the Northwest 14-yard line on the very next play and, following a tough 13-yard catch by Rodgers, Alan Hu would walk into the endzone. Studdard’s extra point put the Ramblers in front, 14-7, with 7:58 left in the half.