By Mike Kays

Phoenix Sports Editor

Louisiana College came to Indian Bowl after a week’s worth of adversity, thanks to Hurricane Gustav.

Bacone created its own adversity on the Indian Bowl turf Saturday. Penalties in bunches and two late interceptions foiled a rally of 16 unanswered points and the Warriors (1-1) dropped their home opener to the Gustav-weary Wildcats, 17-16.

First, the case of the visitors, who were visitors practically all week after Gustav struck the Louisiana coast on Monday. The Wildcats’ week-long preparation detour took them from their Alexandria, La., campus to Shreveport, back to closed dorms in Alexandria at midweek and then to Northwest Louisiana in Natchitoches before busing to Muskogee on Friday.

In between, defensive back Dominique Taylor had his own personal adversity — he lost his jersey and wore teammate Jacob Massey’s 17. He picked one of Jose Del Rio’s two fourth-quarter passes in Bacone’s attempt to regain the lead after LC’s John Michiels capped a 10-point fourth quarter rally with a 36-yard field goal with 3:05 to play.

“Getting a win today is truly a miracle,” said Wildcats coach Dennis Dunn, who has his team at 1-0. “I’m grateful to the Lord for just getting us through this week with all the sense of displacement we’ve endured.”

Del Rio entered the game in the second quarter when starter Ryan Morrow left after taking a hit on his throwing arm, Bacone coach Joseph Thrasher said. Del Rio led the Warriors to the second of Brandon Hawley’s three field goals to end the first half and 10 third-quarter points, including a 28-yard boot by Hawley and a 12-yard scoring pass to Demonte King, making it 16-7.

The Wildcats took advantage of two pass interference penalties covering 27 yards on a 68-yard march to cut it to 16-14 with 8:23 to go on a 2-yard run by Detrick James. It was part of what seemed to be Flag Day for both teams. In all, 27 flags totaling 298 yards in penalties were assessed, 151 by Bacone.

“That was a critical series for us and the penalties hurt,” Thrasher said. “We’ve got to clean that up.”

Bacone punter Aaron Thomas had a clean act all day and then some, averaging 46 yards on his first six kicks. His last one did not go so well, going straight up against a heavy rush and netting only 19 yards on the drive following LC’s touchdown, setting the Wildcats up at their own 32. Quarterback. Derek Lewis directed them downfield on a game-winning drive, highlighted by a 27-yard run off a misdirection play to the Bacone 36. Four plays later with 3:05 remaining, Michiels connected on a 36-yard field goal to make it 17-16.

Del Rio guided the Warriors across midfield but Taylor ended that drive inside the Wildcats 20. The Bacone defense held, however, despite being less than a minute to play to give the offense one last chance. Again, Del Rio was picked, this time by Kendall Rayford and with a kneel-down to go, so ended the contest.

“Ryan took a shot on his arm and he wasn’t moving well in the pocket but we knew we could run well, we were getting protection well, so we thought Del Rio could do a more efficient job of throwing and he did, until the last two minutes,” he said.