A few observations from Friday’s Bastrop-LaGrange game:

All-State defensive tackle Josh Downs returned to the lineup after spending two games on injured reserve.
Downs said he felt no effects from a tailbone injury suffered late in Week 8 against Neville.
“I was A-OK,” Downs said.
Though held out of the past two games against his wishes, Downs realizes coach Brad Bradshaw and St. Francis Sports Medicine team trainer Chris Kyle made the right decision.
“I wanted to play, but it wouldn’t have been good for me,” Downs said. “I spent those two weeks lifting weights and trying to get my body built back up.”
Downs immediately made his presence felt in a dubious way. Before LaGrange could run its first play from scrimmage, he jumped off sides. He was also charged with a roughing the passer penalty late in the first half.
But, as usual, the good out-weighed the bad. Downs finished with three tackles, including a pair of 8-yard sacks, and basically wreaked havoc in the middle.
“It was good to have Josh back in there,” coach Bradshaw said, stating the obvious.
Downs had plenty of help. LaGrange was held to negative 12 yards by the Rams’ first defense, which took only four snaps in the second half.
“D.D. (Jones), Big Moe (Dontavious Moore), Speedy (Tai Alford), Buck (D’Andre Bradshaw) and Charleston (Williams) were in the backfield all night,” Downs said. “We just went out there and had fun.”

SACKFEST: With Downs and his counterparts breaking through the Gators’ front at will, it wasn’t a fun night for LaGrange quarterback Derek Bellard. The junior quarterback was sacked six times and took a beating from the outset as the Rams executed their high-risk, high-reward defensive gameplan with hardly a flaw.
“We knew we were taking a chance because of the defense I decided to play,” coach Bradshaw said. “When you’re playing with no linebackers, you better get back there.”
Joining Downs in the sackfest were Alford, Devin Richards and Deterrius Fraction with one each and D’Andre Bradshaw and Williams with a shared sack.
The biggest hit Bellard took came on an incomplete pass rather than a sack, courtesy of RaDarius (Nook) Winston on a safety blitz. Bellard remained on the ground for several seconds, before leaving the field on his own power.
To Bellard’s credit, he showed his toughness and finished out the game.

PUNTING WOES: Bellard wasn’t the only Gator feeling the heat of the Bastrop defense. Punter Brandon Williams was under just as much duress.
D’Andre Bradshaw converted a blocked punt into a touchdown and Charleston Williams deflected another. Two more attempted punts resulted in a 13-yard sack by Tim Fields and an incomplete pass.
Coach Bradshaw spotted a flaw in the Gators’ punting game on film, but wasn’t sure if the Rams would be able to capitalize after spending two full practice sessions indoors.
“We thought we could take advantage of it, but you never know how it will time out when you’re trying to practice in the gym,” coach Bradshaw said.

BIG BLOCK: Next to Winston’s hit on the blitz, Jevante Watson may have delivered the biggest blow of the game. Watson’s blindside block in the backfield was a bright spot on a fumbled first quarter reverse that resulted in a loss of three yards.
The ill-fated reverse was quickly forgotten as Stanley Moore stretched out to pull in a dazzling 45-yard catch on the next snap.
Bastrop scored its second touchdown two plays later on an 8-yard pass to Hunter Freeland.

TD NEGATED: Bastrop wasted an opportunity after Fields sacked punter Brandon Williams at the 12 midway through the second period.
On fourth-and-10, Rueben Randle fired a 12-yard pass to Preston Coleman for an apparent touchdown. But what would have been the senior wide receiver’s first TD catch of the season was erased by an illegal block.
Moments later, the Rams turned the ball over on downs at the 32 when a fourth down pass was dropped.

GOOD GAME: Senior defensive end Kaylon Roberts was a bright spot defensively for the Gators, stopping three of the Rams’ first five snaps for negative yardage.
Roberts was one of only 13 seniors to wear the purple and white for the final time Friday night.
With 40 juniors and 41 sophomores returning next season, the future looks bright for head coach Jules Sullen and LaGrange football.

T-SHIRTS: The JV cheerleaders are selling district championship T-shirts. Cost of the shirts are $15 or $10, depending upon the design.
To purchase a shirt, see sponsor Sue Desadier or any JV cheerleader.