Top Performers: Scotlandville vs. East Ascension

Several Baton Rouge programs got back to the field in the second week of September after a delayed start because of Hurricane Ida. And a pair of strong Class 5A foes linked up on a Thursday to kick off the weekend and season. Scotlandville struck immediately and weathered some ups and downs, including its own flurries of penalties and shots from East Ascension, to seal away a 39-20 victory. Here were a few of the top performers. <iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-O7TCeujo8U" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="127857" first="Marlon" last="Gunn"] Jr. — 5-11, 195 RB — Scotlandville (2022)</strong> The lead back in the Hornets’ attack took on an even more singular role when his typical partner in crime was ejected in the first quarter on a wild sequence in which referees enforced six unsportsmanlike conduct penalties on one touchdown celebration, including a pair on [player_tooltip player_id="127861" first="Chance" last="Williams"] after his score. <iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Lmx-LxLumbQ" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <strong>Aiden Joseph — DL — East Ascension (2024)</strong> The sophomore defensive tackle provided the Spartans’ most memorable highlight of the night when he joined his team’s offensive backfield on the goal line and took a handoff into the end zone for a touchdown. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">!!BIG MAN TOUCHDOWN!! Big sophomore Aiden Joseph runs in East Ascension’s first score of the season. <a href="https://t.co/Sg6Jn0gnoC">pic.twitter.com/Sg6Jn0gnoC</a></p> — Jerit Roser (@JeritRoser) <a href="https://twitter.com/JeritRoser/status/1436134512157724672?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 10, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="187072" first="Damien" last="Knighten"] — 5-8, 150 ATH — Scotlandville (2022)</strong> The senior has eagerly anticipated this season after sitting out the fall of his junior year following a transfer from Baker. He made his biggest impacts in the spring game and during preseason scrimmages and jamborees as a pass-catcher, but came up huge on defense in the opener with three interceptions, including a pick-six early in the fourth quarter to help put the game away. <iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/9jwFhjA7H3Q" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="138474" first="Covanta" last="Milligan"] — 6-0, 190 RB/LB — Scotlandville (2023)</strong> Maybe the most frequently called name of the evening, the junior standout was a nonstop tackling machine. Milligan saw much of his time as a sophomore as a reserve running back behind Gunn and [player_tooltip player_id="127861" first="Chance" last="Williams"], but appears poised for a breakout season at linebacker. <iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/jWdMKSwSNHA" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <strong>Jacorey Mitchell — 5-11, 160 WR — East Ascension (2024)</strong> The speedy receiver, another member of the Spartans’ talented sophomore class, was a top target downfield for senior quarterback Troy Dunn, including a nice touchdown grab in which he alertly broke forward and made an aggressive play on the ball at the goal line, leaving the defender sliding to the turf and himself with an easy walk-in score. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Troy Dunn. Jacorey Mitchell. East Ascension strikes &amp; pulls back even at 14-14 with the XP. <a href="https://t.co/3RheQjrYgu">pic.twitter.com/3RheQjrYgu</a></p> — Jerit Roser (@JeritRoser) <a href="https://twitter.com/JeritRoser/status/1436136766264778757?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 10, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <strong>Nick Montgomery — K/P — Scotlandville (2022)</strong> Special teams was big for the Hornets from start to finish, and the senior’s leg helped win the battle of field position in the punting game and secured early extra points, including an unusual 50-yarder because of penalties, before trouble getting a hold down shifted the team’s strategy. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Several unsportsmanlike conduct penalties force Scotlandville into a 50-yard extra point. And the Hornets drill it for a 14-0 lead with 2:47 remaining in the first. <a href="https://t.co/N3pyYyJSWX">https://t.co/N3pyYyJSWX</a> <a href="https://t.co/hXIhTZwHAh">pic.twitter.com/hXIhTZwHAh</a></p> — Jerit Roser (@JeritRoser) <a href="https://twitter.com/JeritRoser/status/1436126640292175875?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 10, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="139480" first="Brennon" last="Thompson"] — 6-0, 175 DB/ATH — East Ascension (2024)</strong> The young cousin of former St. James star Shawn Jr., now at Mississippi State, and and current senior star [player_tooltip player_id="128240" first="Shazz" last="Preston"] is excelling in all three phases early in his sophomore season, as a receiver, cornerback and return man. Thompson looks the part of one of Louisiana’s top prospects in the 2024 class. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Troy Dunn completes a third-down pass to the sticks … Might be [player_tooltip player_id="139480" first="Brennon" last="Thompson"] on the receiving end? Sets up fourth&amp;inches… and another Scotlandville penalty converts the play for EA. <a href="https://t.co/tlHrWSEeXh">pic.twitter.com/tlHrWSEeXh</a></p> — Jerit Roser (@JeritRoser) <a href="https://twitter.com/JeritRoser/status/1436128073787772929?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 10, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="127861" first="Chance" last="Williams"] — 5-10, 190 ATH — Scotlandville (2022)</strong> The speedster set the immediate tone with a touchdown return on the opening kickoff, then added a 10-yard rushing touchdown through traffic to stretch the margin to 14-0 in the game’s first minutes. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Chance “Deuce” Williams wastes NO time setting the tone for Scotlandville on the opening kickoff. Hornets lead, 7-0, just nine seconds in. <a href="https://t.co/T3oQX4SVJF">pic.twitter.com/T3oQX4SVJF</a></p> — Jerit Roser (@JeritRoser) <a href="https://twitter.com/JeritRoser/status/1436119363590017024?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 10, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>