The No. 11 Zachary Broncos stormed out to a 27-7 halftime advantage and then had to hold off a furious No. 22 Assumption comeback to escape with a 44-35 win in the opening round of the Class 5-A playoffs.

The Broncos (9-2) scored first early in the first quarter when Darol Dewey threw a 21-yard touchdown pass to Ladarrius Vessell. Jeremy Yantis’ kick gave Zachary a 7-0 advantage.

Assumption (4-7) answered with a 57-yard scoring pass from Hunter Gauthreaux to Theron Ester and Gauthreaux’s kick tied the game at 7-7.

The Broncos quickly regained the lead on Mason Pace’s 54-yard touchdown pass to Ron Pennington, making it 14-7 late in the first quarter.

The Zachary defense

Dillon Beard intercepted Gauthreaux’s pass and returned it 65 yards for a score early in the second period as the Broncos led 21-7.

The Broncos added another touchdown on Pennington’s 1-yard run, making it 27-7 at intermission.

Assumption’s second half rally began when Chris Skidmore ran 23 yards for a touchdown, making it 27-13.

Zachary responded with Pennington’s 79-yard catch-and-run from Dewey and making it 34-13.

Assumption pulled the game within seven points on an 8-yard run by Skidmore and an 88-yard touchdown from Gauthreaux to Ester the third period.

With a 34-27 lead heading into the fourth quarter, the Broncos put the game out reach on Vessell’s 12-yard run to make it 41-27.

Zachary added a 29-yard field goal by Yantis to push ahead 44-27 before the Mustangs’ Leonard Buggage added a late 1-yard touchdown to make it 44-35 after Gauthreaux’s two-point toss to Chris Skidmore.

Broncos outgained Assumption 525-466 in total yardage, including 212-85 on the ground.

Pennington led Zachary with six catches for 207 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for 56 yards and a touchdown. Vessell rushed for 125 yards and a touchdown on 21 carries.

Gauthreaux led the Mustangs, completing 20-of-35 passes for 381 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. Ester caught 11 passes for 273 yards and both touchdowns.

Zachary will travel to No. 27 Acadiana (6-5) in the second round as the Wrecking Rams stormed past No. 6 East St. John, 56-6.