For the second straight week, Ruston knocked off a team from Ascension Parish. In the first round, they upset Dutchtown, 29-27. Hosting the Spartans in round two, they grinded out a 21-13 victory.<\/p>\n
Back in 2016, East Ascension was a big underdog as they made the 240-mile trip up north to face Ruston in the playoffs. The long journey was well worth while as they captured a 38-14 victory.<\/p>\n
Three years later, the fourth-seeded Spartans were back in Ruston, and once again, there was an upset. Unfortunately for East Ascension, they were on the wrong side of it this time around.<\/p>\n
For the second straight week, Ruston knocked off a team from Ascension Parish. In the first round, they upset Dutchtown, 29-27. Hosting the Spartans in round two, they grinded out a 21-13 victory.<\/p>\n
The winning formula against East Ascension was very similar to the one they used against Dutchtown. They got off to a hot start, they controlled the clock and they were tenacious against the pass.<\/p>\n
To begin the game, Ruston took the lead when quarterback Jaden Procell threw a screen pass to Ketravion Hargrove, and he did the rest. Hargrove raced 69 yards for a score to give the Bearcats a 7-0 lead.<\/p>\n
The Spartans responded late in the opening quarter. Ethan Bagwell broke loose for a 62-yard run that set them up inside the Ruston 5-yard line. Bagwell then finished off the drive with a three-yard touchdown run to tie the game.<\/p>\n
Hargrove then struck again for the Bearcats. He got loose for 51 yards to get Ruston down to the East Ascension 18. He eventually scored on a two-yard run to regain a 14-7 lead for the Bearcats early in the second quarter.<\/p>\n
Ruston seemed to have control of the game, but then they fumbled a punt and East Ascension recovered at the Bearcat 47. It gave way to a 15-yard touchdown hookup between Cameron Jones and Jyrin Johnson.<\/p>\n
The Bearcats were able to block the extra point, allowing them to maintain a 14-13 lead at the half.<\/p>\n
East Ascension had a chance to take the lead at the start of the third quarter as Ruston muffed another punt.<\/p>\n
However, the Bearcats got the ball back when Jones was sacked and stripped. Ruston recovered the fumble at their own 24.<\/p>\n
To begin the fourth quarter, it appeared that East Ascension was about to hold Ruston to a punt as they were facing a third-and-22, but Dontre Griffin was able to convert on a draw.<\/p>\n
The Spartans were also guilty of a face mask penalty on the playgiving the Bearcats the ball at the East Ascension 5-yard line. Griffin then powered his way into the end zone to extend the Ruston lead to 21-13.<\/p>\n
With less than three minutes left in the game, the East Ascension defense forced the Bearcats into a fourth-and-one at their own 44-yard line. Griffin again picked up a first down. This conversion allowed Ruston to bleed the clock and clinch the victory.<\/p>\n
After rushing for 126 yards against Dutchtown, East Ascension did a great job of containing Hargrove. He rushed for just 67 yards on 17 carries. Fifty-one of those yards came on one run.<\/p>\n
But Griffin stepped up as a great second option for Ruston. He piled up 81 yards and a score on 16 carries.<\/p>\n
Ruston possessed the ball for 27 minutes.<\/p>\n
Jones was only able to complete eight of 19 passes for just 66 yards and a touchdown. He was sacked four times.<\/p>\n
The loss prevented the Spartans from reaching the state quarterfinals in back-to-back seasons. They finished with an overall record of 9-3.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Read the original: <\/p>\n
Spartans season ends on the road at Ruston - Leesville Daily Leader<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" For the second straight week, Ruston knocked off a team from Ascension Parish. In the first round, they upset Dutchtown, 29-27. Hosting the Spartans in round two, they grinded out a 21-13 victory Continue reading