Terriers defense steps up, helps preserve first-round playoff win

Vandebilt has won many games with a potent offense.

But coach Mark King was particularly satisifed with his squad’s defensive play in the Terriers’ 35-6 Class 4A bi-district playoff victory over Leesville Friday.

Vandebilt (No. 3) limited the Wampus Cats (No. 30) to only 193 yards total offense and a third-quarter touchdown and intercepted quarterback Travante Stallworth four times.

Quarterback Evan Mistich completed two first-quarter touchdown passes and later ran for two more to help the Terriers (10-1) advance to the second round against No. 19 Helen Cox, a 42-40 overtime winner over No. 14 Breaux.

“As a whole, our defense stepped up,” King said. “We had been waiting for these guys to play like this over the past couple of weeks. We had been struggling a little bit defensively, so I was excited to see the defense play as well as it did. We made some plays tonight in the secondary against some good people.”

Evan Mistich led Vandebilt with two interceptions at safety. Cornerback Jacob Ourso and safety Jared Theriot also snagged one apiece to help prevent Stallworth from connecting on the deep pass to his favorite target, 6-foot-5 receiver Alan Muse.

Stallworth completed just 6-of-17 passes for 75 yards. The Wampus Cats’ lone score came on the ground from running back Michael Ford, who finished with 99 yards on 16 carries.

“We had some questions coming in on how well our defense had been playing, but we definitely showed how well we can play tonight,” Mistich said.

Vandebilt’s offense, meanwhile, did what it does best: light up the scoreboard.

Mistich finished with only 70 yards passing, but completed touchdown throws to Gavin Poiencot and Braden Eschete to help put the Terriers in front 14-0 midway through the first quarter.

A special teams breakdown helped Vandebilt extend its lead when a sloppy snap sailed over Leesville punter David Detz with his team facing fourth-and-3 on its own 25. The Terriers recovered the ball on the 5-yard line to set up a Dexter Smith (110 yards, 17 carries) touchdown run on the ensuing play. Echete’s extra point gave Vandebilt a 21-0 lead.

Mistich topped off an 8-play, 55-yard drive with a 10-yard touchdown run to give Vandebilt a 28-0 advantage with just under four minutes to play before the half.

Ford helped the Wampus Cats avoid a shutout with his 13-yard touchdown run in the third quarter.

The Division I recruit made his first appearance on the field after sustaining a broken collarbone in Week 3.

“We heard their running back (Ford) was coming back,” said Vandebilt defensive tackle Joel Ross. “We just tried to contain him and I think we did a pretty good job of doing that. We gave up six, but we didn’t give up the big play and played hard on defense.”

Mistich scored his final touchdown on a 3-yard run at 4:45 of the fourth quarter.

Dutchtown 34, H.L. Bourgeois 21

Eddie Lacy rushed for 150 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Griffins to a bi-district round playoff win over the Braves at Tom B. Smith Stadium.

It was Dutchtown’s second victory over H.L. Bourgeois this season.

After winning the Bayou District, the Braves were ready for a home playoff game against a Dutchtown team that many believed the Braves should have beaten in their previous meeting this year.

“The story tonight was very simple. When plays had to be made, Dutchtown was there to make them and Bourgeois just came up a little short,” said H. L. Bourgeois coach Randy Boquet.

The Braves started off slow, but were still in it for most of the game.

Third-quarter mishaps allowed the Griffins to take control of the contest with their powerful running attack, led by Lacy.

Jereme Lagarde paced the Braves ground game with 104 yards and two touchdowns on 25 carries.

Quarterback Jeremy Polk ran in the team’s other touchdown.

Despite the loss, the Braves posted an 8-2 regular season record and finished undefeated in district for the second time in three years.

“This is the best football team I have ever had the pleasure and privilege of coaching in my career,” Boquet said. “After all this team has been through this season, it’s unbelievable how they always bounced back.

“We won together and we lost together,” Boquet proudly added. “But it was always team first!”

E.D. White 40, Loranger 17

Quarterback Drey Trosclair passed for 136 yards and Clint Clement scored three touchdowns to lead the Cardinals (7-4) to a decisive Class 3A bi-district victory over the Wolves at Harvey Peltier Stadium.

E.D. White advances to the second round against Rayville, a 49-7 winner over Bolton, on Friday.

Eunice 28, Ellender 14

Eunice coughed up the ball four times, but Rhen Comeaux rushed for more than 200 yards and a touchdown en route to a Class 4A bi-district playoff win over the Patriots.

Jesse Turner ran for 127 yards and a touchdown for Ellender, which made its first playoff appearance since 1996.

Jamal Nixon caught the Patriots’ other touchdown.

Ellender finishes its 2007 season 4-7 overall.

Archbishop Rummel 34, Thibodaux 14

The running back tandem of Jarrell Johnson (170 yards) and Andrel Johnson (119 yards) scored two touchdowns apiece to lead the Raiders to a Class 5A bi-district round playoff victory at Joe Yenni Stadium in Metairie.

Carmichael Pharagood and Demon Bolt scored touchdowns for the Tigers, which ends it season 5-6 overall.

Photos by CHRIS SCARNATI

• Tri-Parish Times Curtis Welch shrugs off a tackler in Vandebilt’s 35-6 Class 4A bi-district playoff victory over Leesville last week. The Terriers play Helen Cox Friday.