Bourgeois blows out Terrebonne

After getting off to a 2-4 start on the season, the H.L. Bourgeois Braves are peaking at the right time, having won three consecutive against district opponents and the state playoffs loom in coming weeks. With one game remaining in the regular season, the Braves improved to 5-4 overall and 4-1 in District 6-5A with a convincing 54-21 win over rival Terrebonne last Friday at Tom B. Smith Stadium in Houma.

The Braves got off to a quick start for the second straight week, taking a 14-0 lead halfway through the first quarter, and leading 21-7 at the end of the quarter. “You’re trying to send a message is what you’re trying to do,” said Braves coach Randy Boquet of the quick starts. “You’re trying to let them know, hey, H.L. Bourgeois is a pretty good team. Basically, what you’re trying to do is knock the wind out of them a little bit, and get them back sinking on the ropes. Then you just keep the pressure on, and we were able to do that tonight.”

On its second play of the game, H.L. Bourgeois’ Evan Ingram connected with Sean Burnham on a 36-yard touchdown pass.

A week ago, against Central Lafourche, they Braves scored on their first play from scrimmage.

Then, with 7:53 left in the first quarter, Christian Williams ran it in from 11 yards out for a 14-0 lead. Williams finished with 95 yards on seven carries, and H.L. Bourgeois ran for 412 yards (448 total).

“We had a feeling that if we could get a quick start on them, it would make the night a little easier,” said Boquet. “We got a couple of quick scores and from there on it was just running the offense and playing good defense.”

The Braves went up 21-0 on a 10-yard run by Caleb Williams.

Terrebonne answered on the final play of the first quarter when Byron Jones broke free for a 72-yard score, making it 21-7.

From there, H.L. Bourgeois continued its domination, building a 35-7 lead at halftime and an eventual 48-7 advantage before the Tigers would score again.

“H.L. Bourgeois played a real good football game,” said Terrebonne coach Joe Clement. “They kicked our (butts), and we look forward to playing them again next year.”

The Braves’ second-quarter touchdowns came via runs by Caleb Williams and Jeremy Lagarde.

They kicked off their second-half scoring with an interception return for a touchdown by David LeBlanc, make it 42-7. H.L. Bourgeois’ defense continued to control the game on the next drive, keyed by a sack by Aaron Hawkes.

Terrebonne got late scores off of a touchdown pass from Neil Robertson to Journell Trahan and a 51-yard run by Jones.

With the win, H.L. Bourgeois may have clinched a spot in the state playoffs. “We seem to be building big-time momentum right now,” said Boquet. “It’s the perfect time to do it, right here late in the season, close to the postseason. We’re hitting on all cylinders, and we’re looking like a very good football team right now.”

Matt LeBlanc can be reached at (985) 876-3008 or matt@tri-parishtimes.com.