Westgate football outlasts Southside in a matchup of 337 powerhouses

Every possession between Southside and Westgate football swung the momentum of the game as two 337 heavyweights went toe-to-toe for some Thursday Night Lights.

Each score took the form of a body blow, a right hook or a left jab. In the end, Westgate’s sophomore linebacker Ernest “Bam” Curl delivered the knockout blow scooping up a Sharks fumble and taking it all the way to the house, capping off Westgate’s 42-33 victory over Class 5A Southside on Thursday, Sept. 10 in Youngsville.

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“It just so satisfying that our kid Ernest Curl, who went through a lot with some confidence issues and just trying to figure out his role on the team, for him to get that ball in his hands to help win that game, I’m so proud of him,” Westgate football coach Ryan Antoine said.

With Curl’s scoop and score sucking the life out of the Reef and Southside’s sideline, Westgate not only handed the Sharks their second loss of the season but also further proved that the Tigers are one of the hottest teams to watch from the area in 2026.

Don’t count Westgate out

From the first quarter, fans knew this game was going to come down to the wire. The two teams went back and forth with Southside making a living on the ground game while Westgate’s flashy pass game carried it.

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Leading the Tigers was the junior duo of quarterback Noah Antoine and wide receiver Cayden Lancelin, a four-star recruit according to 247 Sports. The duo racked up over 100 yards and three touchdowns, looking nearly unstoppable against the Sharks.

“Our connection, it started up in middle school,” Lancelin said of Antoine. “We just built our chemistry up and it just happened to work. This is from all the hard work put in during the summer and all the blood, sweat and tears we put into this.

“We deserve it all.”

When Antoine wasn’t connecting with Lancelin, senior Joshua John and Jackilon Roberson were other key targets. John finished the game catching for a 4-yard touchdown as well as rushing for a 15-yard touchdown. Senior running back Caemon Crockem led the Tigers’ ground game with around 85 yards rushing and a touchdown.

Despite trailing at the half, the Tigers’ defense — like their offense — never stopped fighting. Curl manifested his game-sealing play ahead of time.

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“Bam said he was gonna get one before the game,” Lancelin said. “On Tuesday, like two days ago, he had a scoop and score in the JV game and that just shows hard work pays off.”

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A half-step away from a win

Following the Tigers’ scoop and score, you could feel the momentum leaving Southside’s sideline, marking another loss at home this season. For most of the game, the Sharks controlled the tempo, soaking up the clock and chipping away.

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Senior running back Justin Williams led their offense, rushing for over 100 yards and a touchdown, as well as scoring on a kickoff return. Senior running back Coby Broussard added a 3-yard rushing touchdown. The Sharks were able to cash in on the passing game as well, with quarterback Parker Dies connecting with senior Kollen Francis for a 25-yard touchdown.

Southside had the game in its hands in the fourth quarter, trailing by just three points before a fumble and Curl’s scoop-and-score killed any comeback chances.

“The game was right there,” Southside football coach Jess Curtis said. “There’s a handful of plays every game that decides who wins, and it was right there. You can clean those things up, but it’s very frustrating. We came into this year with a lot of hope and big goals and aspirations, but you can’t make mistakes.”

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Shannon Belt covers high school sports, the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns and LSU men’s basketball for The Daily Advertiser as part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow her high school and Cajuns coverage on Twitter: @ShannonBelt3. Got questions regarding HS/UL athletics? Send them to Shannon Belt at sbelt@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Lafayette Daily Advertiser: Westgate football outlasts Southside in a matchup of 337 powerhouses