Covington’s Fighting Lions proved to be a resilient bunch Friday night clawing their way back from a 14-point deficit to snag a hard-fought 35-31 victory over the St. Amant Gators in the season opener for both clubs.

A number of key plays triggered the Lions’ exhilarating victory sending the Jack Salter Stadium crowd home with a smile.

It was no easy task for the home standing Lions as they needed to muster a game-winning drive in the last 6:48 of the game. Trailing 31-28, the Lions’ defense forced the Gators into a punting situation. St. Amant senior kicker Justin Manton got off a 47 yard punt with a nice roll with the ball being downed at the Lions’ nine.

Covington Lions punter Ridge Buisson (7) leaps into the line on a fourth-down play during Friday night’s season opener against St. Amant at Jack Salter Stadium. The defense failed to stop him, and he scored. (Photo by Mike McCall)

CHS junior QB John McDowell engineered a methodical 13-play 91-yard drive, which he finished off with a clutch 13-yard strike to senior Vincent Luka with just 35.2 seconds remaining. The Lions marched down the field pounding the ball on 12 consecutive running plays. The Lions called their final time out facing a third-and-five with 42.2 seconds left before McDowell linked up with Luka for the winning score. Junior place kicker Ridge Buisson added the PAT for the four-point margin. McDowell finished 4-of-9 for 74 yards. He also rushed the ball 3 times for 53 yards, including a 39 yard jaunt.

Luka described his game-winning catch.

“It was a quick little screen pass out to the left. We had great blocking from the line and ‘J’ (McDowell) threw a nice pass. It was planned perfectly and we just executed. The pass was either going to go to our tight end or me and ‘J’ made a good read,” Luka said.

Lions’ tight end Daniel Thompson made an excellent block around the three- yard line, which allowed Luka to cut back and get into the end zone.

“The guy hit me and I fought my hardest to get in the end zone. It felt great to be able to make that play. It was like I was part of the family,” Luka added.

St. Amant didn’t go away quietly setting up at its 41 after the kickoff with just 29.2 seconds to go. Gators’ senior QB Jaylin LeBlanc scampered for 11 yards and then picked up another five yards. On second-and-five with only 12.4 seconds remaining, he misfired on a pass missing a diving receiver. With six ticks left, he was sacked by Lions’ junior linebacker Otha Peters and fumbled as time ran out.

CHS head coach Malter Scobel said his team hung in there.

“We played sloppy at times, but when we played good, we were good. Before that last drive of the game with just over six minutes left we got together on the sidelines and said this is what we’ve been talking about all summer coming out here and running the ball nd scoring and that is what we did,” Scobel said.

“We have a lot things we have to correct. St. Amant played a great game, but we ended up on top,” Scobel added.

St. Amant controlled the early tempo scoring on the second play from scrimmage with LeBlanc racing past the Lions on a 66-yard jaunt at the 11:33 mark. Manton tacked on the point after. LeBlanc topped all rushers with 101 yards on 13 carries.

Following a three-and-out, the Lions were forced to punt. St. Amant tallied on a nine-play, 71-yard drive, despite being penalized three times. Facing third-and-goal from the five, LeBlanc called his own number and skirted around end for the score. Manton’s point after made it 14-zip with 4:58 left in the opening quarter.

CHS senior receiver/ returner Jay Bickham nearly broke one, returning the kickoff 52 yards before the kicker was able to trip him up at the Gators’ 47. Bickham carried on first down and was stopped for no gain. At that point, freshman running back Robert Brown carried the load the rest of the way getting his No. 24 called for the next seven straight plays. He answered with slashing runs including two gains of 12 and 13 yards to pick up consecutive first downs. Brown polished off the drive busing in from four yards out on the last play of the first quarter to cut the lead to 14-7 with Buisson’s PAT.

Brown gained 72 tough yards on 16 carries.

CHS junior Zach Lehmann made a major contribution blocking a punt and managed to pick up the live ball and raced 29 yards into the end zone with 7:04 left in the first half. Buisson’s point after knotted things at 14-14.

Lehmann described his big play.

“When I blocked it, I was just thinking about getting into the end zone and giving our team some confidence so we could get back into the game. As soon as I made the block the first thing that came to mind was where’s the ball. I picked it up and all I had to do was run with it,” Lehmann said.

The Lions took a 21-14 on freshman Antoine Brumfield’s 3-yard run and Buisson’s third conversion with only 11.9 seconds left in the half.

St. Amant’s LeBlanc connected with Dalton Alexander from 20-yards and Manton tied it with his point after at the 8:11 mark of the third quarter.

On the Lions’ next possession, while in punt formation the ball was snapped over Buisson’s head. He eluded the first rushing defender, but was stopped turning the ball over at the Lions’ seven following a penalty. Two plays later, LeBlanc rolled right and shoveled a ball to Daniel St. Pierre, who outraced Lions’ defenders into the end zone from 10 yards out. Manton’s kick put the Gators up 28-21 with 4:40 left in the third quarter.

On the Lions’ next possession, McDowell was picked off by Breck Schexnayder at the CHS 46. Facing fourth-and-goal, Manton delivered a 21-yard field goal to give the Gators a 10-point advantage with 25 seconds left in the quarter.

CHS marched back down field. On fourth-and-seven from the St. Amant 47, the Lions set up in punt formation. Instead, Buisson, the punter, repositioned himself at the line to draw the Gators offside. Taking the snap, Buisson leaped in the air and after making contact with the pile he bounced off, keeping his balance around right end for the score. His PAT made it 31-28.

“When I jumped I looked at the sidelines and I wasn’t close (to the first). I got outside and scored,” Buisson said.

“We had a slow start, but we found a way to come back. Next week we have Franklinton and they are a powerhouse,” he added.

The Lions’ defense stepped up and forced a punt, but Bickham fumbled the ball while attempting a fair catch. The Gators took over at the CHS 42. Again the Lions’ defense stiffened and produced a St. Amant punt, which gave the Covington squad some final life, which is all they needed as McDowell engineered the game winning drive from his own nine.