Published Nov 5, 2008
TigerBait.com high school notebook
William Weathers
TigerBait.com Managing Editor
Hail yeah
Advertisement
Wide receiver Aaron Fontenot caught a 54-yard "Hail Mary" pass from quarterback Cody Stelly on the final play of the game and place-kicker Sean Soileau added the extra point to lift Opelousas Catholic to an improbable 33-32 win over Westminster Academy. It was the Vikings' eight straight win over the Crusaders under coach Doug Guillory. Westminster had just taken a 32-26 lead with 1:21 left with an impressive that drive that went for 18 plays, 66 yards and consumed 9:52 off the clock but the Crusaders missed their fourth extra point of the game.
Shots fired
The Cohen-Rabouin game, which Cohen led 12-0 with 8:29 to play in the third quarter, was halted when gun shots were fired at Pan American Stadium in New Orleans. Cohen was awarded the victory.
Heads up play
With Chris Barbat about to hit the ground near the goal line he alertly flipped the ball backward to a trailing Jacob Carter who carried the ball into the end zone in the second overtime and gave Buckeye a 40-33 victory over Marksville and the school's second District 3-3A crown. The two teams swapped leads with Marksville taking a 19-12 lead late in the third quarter before Buckeye answered with 3:31 to play on Carter's 2-yard run. However, Brenon Hudson returned the ensuing kickoff after Carter's TD for a 62-yard score of his own – tying the game at 25-all. Marksville scored first in overtime and went for two which Buckeye responded by getting a 10-yard run from Will Hooper and Barbat's two-point conversion run.
Sudden change of events
Parkway, which trailed by two points, fumbled the ball away going in at the 2-yard line with 1:17 to play against Minden. However, the Panthers defense registered a safety with 59.8 seconds left and reserve quarterback Carson Baranik threw a 28-yard TD pass with 29.4 seconds remaining for a dramatic 30-24 victory. Minden, which was led by the 313 yards and 3 TDs passing of quarterback, T.Q. Mims, led 24-22 with nine minutes showing.
Offense for everyone
When Belle Chasse managed a 48-40 victory over Helen Cox the two teams had combined for 45 first downs and 876 yards worth of offense. Quarterback Blake Matherne accounted for 327 of his team's 473 yards and five TDs to pace the Cardinals. Cox quarterback Darius Carey was responsible for 371 of his team's 434 yards and six TDs.
Toll bridge
Breaux Bridge's defense recorded its fourth shutout of the season in a key 6-0 win over Teurlings Catholic. The Tigers, who have allowed only 35 points all season, stopped Rebels leading rusher Andrew Hebert twice from the 1-yard line to turn back a drive that took 20 plays and lasted 80 yards. Hunter Landry's 10-yard TD pass to Dayne Thibodeaux in the first quarter was all Breaux Bridge needed offensively.
Losers no more
Franklin Parish ended a 14-game losing streak with a 32-8 win over Carroll. Adrian Gardner carried 20 times for 278 yards with 2 TDs, while Tony Shaw added two more scores for the Patriots.
Air traffic controllers
Free safety Ronald Gillis had a pair of interceptions and linebacker Michael Lamothe, a Texas A&M commitment, added another as part of a four interception effort from New Iberia's defense in a 28-7 win over St. Martinville. Linebacker Johnnie Cope also forced a pair of fumbles for the Yellow Jackets who had four tackles for losses, including two sacks.
Flying high
St. Edmund of Eunice won its first district title since 2004 with a 41-7 win over False River. The Blue Jays intercepted Gators' quarterback Brad Guillory five times, helping to turn a 14-7 halftime lead into a comfortable margin following 27 unanswered points. St. Ed's (8-0) will go for its first undefeated perfect regular season since a 8-0-2 season in 1969 when the Blue Jays host Kinder.
Sad state of affairs
A week after having to forfeit a game East Iberville dressed out nine junior high players and started a 12-year-old offensive/defensive tackle in a 69-24 loss to Hanson Memorial. East Iberville (0-6) tied the game at 6-6 on Brandon Jones' 65-yard run before Hanson, which won for the first time, exploded to a 48-18 halftime advantage. East Iberville is scheduled to close out the season at winless North Iberville.
Overcoming itself
O.P. Walker managed a 43-12 win over Warren Easton despite committing 23 penalties for 218 yards. Running back Tyrone Duplessis led the Chargers with 14 carries for 94 yards and 4 TDs.
Superlatives
Kyle West of Pine Prairie accounted for 416 yards and 7 TDs in a 47-0 win over Northwood-Lena. … Rueben Foster of Ridgewood rushed for 320 yards and 3 TDs in a 27-22 win over Country Day. … Derek Bellard of LaGrange completed 22-of-37 passes for 293 yards and 3 TDs in a 42-35 loss to Comeaux. … Slidell's Blake Forbis passed for 286 yards and 3 TDs in a 33-0 win over Hammond. … St. Helena Central's Darin Self gained 285 yards and 4 TDs in a 34-14 win over Pope John Paul. … Darin Gums of Gueydan rushed 25 times for 276 yards and 6 TDs in a 45-22 win over Central Catholic-Morgan City. … Rayville's Phaquinton Lawson went 11-of-14 for 270 yards in a 28-7 win over Wossman. … Garrett McCain of Sulphur completed 21-of-31 passes for 261 yards and 2 TDs in a 42-14 loss to Acadiana. … Javaris Murray of North DeSoto rushed for 253 yards and 4 TDs in a 60-33 win over Jena who received a 253-yard rushing effort from Eric Bowers. … Capitol's Terrance Broadway completed 18-of-26 passes for 285 yards and 4 TDs in a 27-6 win over West Feliciana. … Newman's Wes Luquette, a LSU baseball commitment, completed 21-of-34 passes for 237 yards and 3 TDs in a 42-25 win over Fisher. … John Sylvester of Port Barre carried 23 times for 237 yards and 4 TDs in a 35-18 win over Sacred Heart-Ville Platte. … Chase Boykins of Franklin completed 8-of-16 passes for 236 yards and 2 TDs in a 42-3 win over West St. Mary. … Patterson's Kenny Hilliard rushed for 232 yards and 5 TDs in a 48-19 win over South Lafourche.
TigerBait.com Player of the Week
Athlete Trovon Reed, Thibodaux
Reed accounted for 289 yards of offense and seven touchdowns to lead Thibodaux to a 70-14 win over Central Lafourche. Reed completed all eight of his pass attempts for 221 yards with four touchdowns. He also rushed for 68 yards and 3 additional scores.
TigerBait.com Top 5
1. West Monroe (8-0). West Monroe scored four touchdowns in 12 plays en route to a 42-7 win over Natchitoches Central. Tyler Cain returned a punt 56 yards to give Rebels a 7-0 lead before quarterback D.J. Banks threw scoring passes of 29 and 8 yards, respectively. West Monroe's defense limited Natchitoches Central to one yard rushing and 149 total offense. Next: Host Captain Shreve.
2. John Curtis (8-1). Curtis broke a 7-all halftime time with a safety and a 64-yard TD run from Marchez Patterson and two-point conversion from Kenny Cain to lead the Patriots to a 17-14 win over St. James to grab a share of the District 10-2A title. Quarterback Evan Ingram gave Curtis a 7-0 lead with a 20-yard run before St. James quarterback Marcus Dumas answered with a TD run. The Patriots snapped the tie with 4:03 left in the third quarter when running back Kenny Zenon was tackled in the end zone following a 62-yard punt from Stone Speer to the 1-yard line. Next: Host Newman.
3. Destrehan (8-0). Defense and special teams contributed heavily to Destrehan's 46-0 blasting of East Ascension to gain a share of the District 5-5A title. Antonio Parker returned a punt 60 yards for a touchdowns and also brought back an interception 39 yards for another score as part of a 22-point first quarter. Alabama commitment Darrington Sentimore also contributed a safety for a defense that limited EA to 100 yards. Quarterback Wynrick Smothers ran for a 22-yard score and passed twice Henry Lenox for a pair of TDs. Next: Host Dutchtown.
4. Evangel (8-1). Evangel's defense got heavily involved in the scoring act with three touchdowns in a 69-13 demolition of Lakeside in District 1-2A action. Ray Johnson and Virgil Williams each returned interceptions for TDs while quarterback Dez Duron threw for four scores and running back CerDerrick Tyson returned a kickoff 87 yards for a 28-7 lead. Next: Host Calvary.
5. Bastrop (7-1). Bastrop claimed a share of the District 2-4A title with a convincing 44-6 win over West Ouachita. The Rams scored 24 points in the second quarter to open a commanding 30-6 halftime advantage. Quarterback Rueben Randle completed 16-of-22 passes for 296 yards and 3 TDs and also carried three times for another 30 yards and a score. Stanley Moore led the Rams with four catches for 180 yards and a pair of TDs. Next: Host Carroll.
Others receiving consideration: Acadiana, Amite, Barbe, Benton, Byrd, Calvary, Eunice, Leesville, Notre Dame, Parkview Baptist, South Plaquemines, Westlake.
TigerBait.com Games of the Week
Byrd at Ouachita
Acadiana at St. Thomas More
Dutchtown at Destrehan
Thibodaux at Terrebonne
Brother Martin at Rummel
Parkway at Benton
Leesville at Tioga
McKinley at Tara
Helen Cox at Shaw
Franklinton at Pearl River
Redemptorist at Parkview Baptist
Calvary Baptist at Evangel
Lake Arthur at Welsh
Donaldsonville at St. John
St. Thomas Aquinas at Pope John Paul
Delcambre at Gueydan
Mangham at Delhi Charter
Hamilton Christian at Basile