Mistich shines in spring scrimmage

Evan Mistich can be pretty offensive.

But it’s not the kind of behavior Vandebilt Catholic coach Mark King necessarily discourages.

On the gridiron, it’s the kind he appreciates.

The senior quarterback made King particularly happy last Tuesday when he darted 40 yards for the go-ahead touchdown in the Blue Team’s 26-20 come-from-behind win over the Gold Team in the program’s annual intrasquad scrimmage at Buddy Marcello Stadium.

It was Mistich’s second touchdown run. He also nipped the corner of the end zone on a 4-yard rush to notch the score at 20-20 at 5:24 of the fourth quarter.

“Our goal with Evan is to roll him out,” King said. “ He sees the field really well.”

The scrimmage featured nine returning starters from the Vandebilt’s 2006 squad that finished 6-5 and advanced to the second round of the playoffs. It also showcased talented newcomers like junior wideout DeQuiante Brown, a standout track athlete who brings breakaway speed to program.

“We’ll have the weapons on offense to get it done, but the main question is ‘Can we be consistent?’” King said.

Two Blue Team fumbles led to two Curtis Welch touchdown runs and an early 14-0 first-quarter Gold Team lead.

Minutes later, junior Dexter Smith of the Blue Team narrowed the deficit with a 10-yard run. The two-point conversion failed, and the score remained 14-6 heading into the half.

Smith found pay dirt on a 19-yard run in the third quarter, and Brown’s ensuing two-point conversion tied the score at 14.

Alex Mitchell’s 1-yard touchdown plunge gave the Gold Team its last lead, 20-14, late in the third quarter before Mistich’s heroics gave the Blue Team the dramatic victory.

“We have a really good chance to be talented at the running back position between Smith and Welch,” King said. “Curtis is a tough, hard-nosed big kid and Dexter is a little more shaky and can make some moves.”

Central Lafourche

Chad Callais hasn’t seen any film of Central Lafourche’s 2006 season, which ended with a 1-5 District 6-5A record.

Nonetheless, the first-year coach caught a glimpse into his program’s future on last Tuesday during the Trojans’ spring scrimmage and came away feeling optimistic.

The Green Team edged the White Team, 12-6, on the strength of Cobie Savoie’s 1-yard quarterback sneak in the closing seconds of the game.

“The defense is always ahead of the offense around this time of year, but they both played well,” said Callais, who took over the reins at Central Lafourche after serving two years as offensive line coach at Nicholls State University. “We’re working daily to get better.”

The Green team grabbed the early lead behind a 2-yard Dustin Earvin run late in the second quarter. Earvin’s two-point conversion attempted was thwarted, and the Green Team took a 6-0 lead into the half.

Quarterback Neal Foret got the White Team’s only points of the game in the fourth quarter on a 1-yard run.

“Foret is a great quarterback who understands our system,” Callais said.

Callais said the key to turning around the program rests on the shoulders of his players … in some cases, literally.

“It will all come down to working out. We’re doing all power and Olympic lifting like they do at Nicholls and LSU. Nothing comes easy and nothing is given to you. Part of the price of a winning is sacrificing your summer. So far, everyone is excited and a lot of people have signed up for workouts.”