Cameron Samuels (0) breaks a tackle and heads up field for the first of his three touchdowns against LaGrange.
Jacolby Campbell hustles for yardage after a reception for AHS.
Abbeville High ends 14 game losing streak
The 14-game losing streak has come to an end for the Abbeville Wildcats. This streak, which began during a winless 0-10 season last year, was halted when the Wildcats managed to fend off a determined LaGrange Gators (1-4) team with a score of 20-14.
The contest came down to the final seconds when LaGrange had a chance to win the game with three seconds left and eight yards away from the end zone.
On fourth down and goal from the 8, Abbeville linebacker Chayson Gray made the biggest tackle of the season when he sacked the quarterback as time expired.
Gray finished with an impressive 15 tackles and seven quarterback sacks.
“I was not planning on making the play,’ but it just happened,” said Gray.
Not bad for a guy who was a part-time linebacker until Friday.
“I was kind of nervous the first two plays into the game, and then after that, I relaxed,” said Gray.
“He was nervous before the game,” said interim AHS head coach Trevor Eaton. “He was unsure if he could be successful at that position. He played well. I am very proud of that kid.”
With head coach Jonathan Zenon absent from the game due to health reasons, interim head coach Trevor Eaton was on the sidelines for the first time. Eaton, the head basketball coach, was pleased with the team’s victory.
“These kids have been playing with excitement all year,” Eaton said, who is now 1-0 as a head football coach. “It is good to see a little bit of fruit come from all of the hard work they have put in all year.”
Next up for the Wildcats are the Mamou Demons, who boast a 3-2 record, following their 20-18 victory over Crowley this past Friday. It will also be Abbeville’s homecoming game. Mamou upset Abbeville last year, 40-34 in Mamou.
The Demons enter the game with a similar offense to Abbeville.
They have two running backs who have rushed for just under 300 yards and a quarterback who has thrown for 357 yards.
Eaton will be looking for the Wildcats’ defense and offense to perform as they did this past Friday.
The AHS offense is coming off its best performance this season.
Abbeville tailback Justin Montgomery had 18 carries for 127 yards to lead the team in rushing.
But Friday’s win came with the help of the passing game.
Quarterback Dazavien Maze had his best of the season, completing 12 out of 19 passes for 223 yards and three touchdowns.
His favorite target was Cameron Samuels, who also had a season-best five catches for 144 yards and three touchdowns.
His biggest catch of the night was a 47-yard touchdown pass with 3:17 left in the game that put Abbeville ahead for good.
He caught the pass at the line of scrimmage, made a quick step to make the defender miss, and then outran the entire Gator defense for a 47-yard reception. It was his longest catch of the game.
Friday’s game was one he had been waiting for all season.
“I knew it (good game) was coming,” said Samuels. “It just comes with time and patience.”
Samuels said the victory means “a lot.”
“We knew we had what it takes for the win,” said Samuels. “It was a matter of discipline. We finally put it together and came out successful.”
“That kid (Samuels) is going to do amazing things,” said Eaton.
Other AHS receivers with catches were Jacolby Campbell (3-68), Chayson Gray (1-7) and Justin Montgomery (1-4)
