Tarpons torpedo rival Trojans

Struggling Central Lafourche and South Lafourche both entered Friday’s matchup in Mathews desperately needing a win.

Enduring a disappointing campaign after playing its final game in 2005 for the District 6-5A championship, South Lafourche tried to keep its slim playoff hopes alive. Central Lafourche just wanted to avoid finishing the season as the Bayou District’s last-place squad.

In the end, the Tarpons upended the archrival Trojans, 24-14.

With just 70 yards passing, the Tarpons (3-6) used a solid running game to turn back the Trojans (1-8). South Lafourche rushed 43 times for 293 yards.

Brandon Vallian carried 18 times for 209 yards and two scores. His 50-yard touchdown run with two seconds remaining in the first quarter gave South Lafourche a 7-0 lead. He later added a 66-yard touchdown scamper that gave South Lafourche the lead for good.

“He did a great job for us, and the line did a great job of giving him some openings,” said Tarpons coach Tommy Gisclair.

After Vallian’s first score, the Tarpons caught the Trojans off guard and recovered an onside kick. Ten plays later, Cody Arabie added a 24-yard field goal to give South Lafourche a 10-0 advantage with 7:16 to go before halftime.

Central Lafourche responded with an 80-yard drive that ended with Neil Foret’s 39-yard touchdown toss to Neil Adams with 1:40 to go in the second quarter. South Lafourche led 10-7 at the break.

After the Tarpons fumbled on its first possession of the second half, the Trojans grabbed a 14-10 lead on a 10-play, 76-yard drive. The sequence of plays ended when Wilfred Streams plowed his way into the end zone from the 1-yard line with 4:40 to play in the third period.

The Trojans’ only lead of the game would not last long.

On the next offensive play from scrimmage, Vallian scored his second touchdown of the evening. South Lafourche took a 17-14 lead with 4:19 to go in the third.

Central Lafourche later drove the ball to the Tarpons’ 27, but Phillip Leger intercepted a halfback pass in the end zone from Adams.

The Tarpons sealed the game when Leger scored on a 6-yard quarterback draw to give his team a 24-14 lead with 7:34 left to go in game.

Leger completed 5 of 7 passes for 76 yards and rushed for 38 yards on 10 carries. Foret connected on 10 of his 16 tosses for 143 yards.

With the win, South Lafourche improves to 2-3 in district play and has an outside chance of making the playoffs if it upsets H.L. Bourgeois (5-4, 4-1) in Galliano Friday night. Meanwhile, Central Lafourche finished in the district’s cellar with a 1-5 mark. The Trojans complete their season at home with a non-district game against Belle Chase (5-4).

Kenny Boudreaux can be reached at (985) 876-3008 or kenny@tri-parishtimes.com.