Nov. 18
November 18, 2008
Catherine "Cat" Jacobs
November 20, 2008
A 5-yard run from Jasmine Williams started it, and a 5-yard run by Brandon Duncan finished it.
If you’re the Thibodaux High Tigers, 5 yards never looked so beautiful.
The Tigers rode the legs of Duncan Williams, Donnie Morgan, Carmichael Pharagood and Trovon Reed to secure their first playoff win since the 1991 season.
Ironically, Dennis Lorio was the head coach of the Tigers then.
Their 26-21 victory over the Covington Lions wasn’t pretty, but as Lorio said, “It’s the scoreboard that counts.”
In fact, when Thibodaux High won the title in 1991, they won their first game 3-0.
“It’s playoff football,” he said. “They’re good at what they do, we’re not bad at what we do. I’m just thrilled for these kids. I don’t want anybody coming up here and telling me what we didn’t do, I’m going to tell you what we did do. It’s win or go home.”
He added, “I want these kids to realize what they’ve done. It’s been a long time but we won a playoff game.”
Williams’ touchdown opened the scoring. A Chad Fletcher interception on the opening drive gave the Tigers the ball in Lions’ territory. The drive ended with William’s score at the 8:27 mark of the first quarter.
After forcing the Lions to punt, Duncan scored his first touchdown of the night from 4 yards out at the 3:35 mark to put the Tigers ahead 14-0.
Lorio said it’s been fun to watch the progression of both Williams and Duncan this season, as they are making plays that they weren’t making to start the season.
“Both our fullbacks have gotten better and better as the year has gone on,” he said. “Our entire team usually plays real strong in the second half; it was the same case here.”
The Tigers carried a 20-7 lead into halftime as Demon Bolt scored from 45 yards out on a pass from Pharagood.
Lion Eddie Pea scored on a 31-yard reception to cut the lead to 14-7 prior.
Covington scored again in the second half on a 20-yard reception by Neil Blanchard before Duncan caped off the night with a 5-yard scoring run to seal the game.
Covington got one more score from Blanchard with 1:36 to play but it wasn’t enough.
Not only was it the Tigers’ first win since 1991, it was only the second win for a Bayou District team in the playoffs.
Prior to this game, teams from the district were 1-17. Thanks to the Tigers, another win can be added to that total.
“That was on everybody’s mind,” Lorio said. “There’s some things we can do better. I think we had a good night on offense. We were able to do what we wanted.”
Trovon Reed, the Tigers’ dual threat quarterback/receiver, was limited to receiver duties because of a shoulder injury. He still finished with seven catches for 146 yards and had a key 35-yard reception to set up the Tigers’ winning drive.
Lorio said the shoulder is better, and Reed was given clearance to play quarterback Friday night.
With the win ,the Tigers return home Friday night to play another team from Covington – the St. Paul Saints.
“They are very similar in what they do,” Lorio explained. “They played Covington and won 9-7 so we think their offenses are a little similar. We have that game tape, so we’ll watch it and see what we can find.”
The Saints are from the same district as the Lions, 6-5A where they finished 8-2 overall (5-2 district). The Saints defeated John Ehret 34-10 to advance to Friday’s match-up.
Thibodaux’s Trovon Reed races past Covington defenders Friday night in Thibodaux. The Tigers won the game 26-21 to earn their first playoff win since 1991. * Photo by KYLE CARRIER
