Devils fall in high-scoring contest

Five touchdowns were scored in the first quarter of the high-scoring 34-58 Plaquemine High loss to 5A powerhouse Brother Martin to open the regular season.

            The outcome seemed promising for PHS as Green Devil quarterback Austin Mitchell opened the game with a long 54-yard scoring run less than two minutes into the contest.

            PHS wouldn’t hold onto the lead for long and would be chasing Brother Martin for the majority of the matchup as Brother Martin quarterback Jake Broggi tossed a nine-yard score to receiver Jeremy Singleton just more than a minute of game time later.

            PHS couldn’t respond to the BM touchdown as Broggi tacked on another score, a 35-yard pass to Bruce Spilling with just under six minutes remaining in the first.

            Mitchell was determined to not let BM slip away with a lead as he earned a long 67-yard scoring run with three minutes remaining in the first.  Brother Martin would get the last say of the first quarter with a 36-yard scoring run to close out the first.  BM led 21-14 at the start of the second.

            BM scored on another run 30 seconds into the second quarter, taking a 28-14 lead.  The second quarter was all BM as they scored 17 unanswered points taking a 38-14 lead going into the half.

            The Green Devils rebounded in the third as Austin Mitchell tossed a four-yard score to sophomore Cody Willis after a three-minute drive.  PHS closed the BM lead after a failed Brother Martin drive with a 17 yard score from running back and defensive back speedster Wayne Toussant.

            The gap was closed 28-38, but not for long at Bruce Spilling scored a 20-yard run with four minutes remaining in the third giving Brother Martin a 44-28 lead going into the final quarter.

            PHS fought to gain some ground with the 12 minutes of remaining playtime and Wayne Toussant scored on a 24-yard pass from quarterback Mitchell.  After a failed two-point conversion the Devils were down 34-44 with five minutes left in the game.

            The stout Brother Martin offense proved to be too much for the PHS Green Devil defense as BM went on to score two more touchdowns, a 54-yarder and 25-yarder to close out the game.

            Mitchell led the Devils in rushing yards with 169 on the ground with two touchdowns.  Wayne Toussant followed with 50 yards and a score.

            Mitchell totaled 90 yards through the air with two scores.  Toussant led in receiving yards with 37 and a score, followed by Clinton White with 32, Andre Riley with 17 and Cody Willis with four and a score.

            PHS sits at 0-1 to start the regular season.  Belaire and St. Michael are the only two teams in the 6-1A district to snag victories in week one.

            PHS will visit neighboring Port Allen on Friday, September 11.