Sarah Smith
October 30, 2007November Dance
November 1, 2007
Forget Kit Kats, Reese’s Pieces and M&M’s.
The Thibodaux football team gave coach Lenny Ford something a lot sweeter than Halloween candy last weekend.
The Tigers built a 14-point halftime lead on the strength of a fake punt and a reverse play.
The Trojans rallied behind the legs and throwing arm of Neil Foret to keep it interesting, but Thibodaux linebacker Blake Poincon covered an onside kick with 1:18 remaining to preserve a 23-20 District 7-5A win at Central Lafourche Stadium last Friday.
“The kids really had a great week of practice,” Ford said. “They knew we had to win this game for a chance to get in (the playoffs). It was a great effort by the offense, defense and coaching staff and our special teams came through. It was just a great win.”
The victory bolstered the Tigers chances of tying H.L. Bourgeois for the district title.
The Braves (7-2, 5-0 in district) edged Assumption 22-20 and finish with South Lafourche at home Friday.
Thibodaux (4-5, 4-1) hosts Terrebonne.
Central Lafourche (4-5, 4-2) must beat Chalmette next week to have any chance of clinching a postseason berth.
“We’re trying to finish off 5-5 and hopefully sneak into the playoffs,” said Trojans coach Chad Callais. “I don’t know if that’s possible, but it would be great. We’re going to regroup and try to finish off on a positive note.”
Foret got Central Lafourche off to a positive start on his team’s opening possession of the game with a 56-yard touchdown run at 8:06 in the first quarter. The extra point was no good, but the Trojans took a 6-0 advantage.
The Tigers responded on their ensuing possession when running back Jasmine Williams found a hole and motored 58 yards to the end zone. Drew Williamson’s extra point put Thibodaux up 7-6.
Then, in the true spirit of Halloween, the Tigers used some “tricks” to stun Central Lafourche in the second quarter.
Thibodaux’s Dvante Queen lined up to punt facing 4th-and-1 on the Trojans 48, but instead launched a deep touchdown pass to a wide-open Trovon Reed. The extra point was blocked, but the Tigers took a 13-6 lead.
Reed also figured in Thibodaux’s next touchdown when he took a reverse hand-off and hit Demon Bolt with a 54-yard scoring strike. Williamson’s extra point put the Tigers ahead 20-6.
Nonetheless, Ford wasn’t ready to get comfortable.
“We were still worried about that Foret kid,” he said. “We knew he could throw the ball pretty good.”
And his worst fears almost came true.
Almost.
Williamson provided breathing room by drilling a 20-yard field goal with less than a minute to play in the third to put the Tigers ahead 23-6.
But then Foret rallied Central Lafourche in the final stanza, connecting with Adrian Bourgeois on a 28-yard pass at 8:11 and, later, Lane Toups from 30 yards out. Both extra points were good, and the Trojans pulled within three.
However, the covered onside kick ultimately ended any hopes of a comeback.
Foret finished with 122 yards passing and 116 on the ground.
Other scores
H.L. Bourgeois 22, Assumption 20
Caleb Williams ran for 125 yards and two touchdowns to help the Braves edge Assumption and at least clinch a tie for the section crown.
Kerry Guidry kicked a game-winning 27-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter.
H.L. Bourgeois (7-2, 5-0) plays South Lafourche Friday.
Assumption travels to South Terrebonne.
Shaw 42, Ellender 12
The Patriots held leads of 6-0 and 12-6, but couldn’t slow an Archbishop Shaw rushing attack led by Steffon Gray.
Gray rushed for more than 200 yards and a touchdown to keep the Eagles soaring at 9-0 overall and 4-0 in district play.
Hosea Chatman threw touchdown passes to Bradford Matthews and Pierre Hill for Ellender (4-5, 2-2), which hosts Vandebilt Friday.
South Terrebonne 57, Terrebonne 35
Blake Martin completed 17-of-23 passes for 307 yards and seven touchdowns to lead the Gators to a shootout win over the Tigers.
Neil Robertson finished 6-of-11 for 185 yards and two touchdowns for Terrebonne (2-7, 1-4).
South Terrebonne (4-5, 2-3) hosts H.L. Bourgeois Friday.
Terrebonne travels to Thibodaux.
Vandebilt 42, Morgan City 21
Curtis Welch rushed for two touchdowns to help the Terriers hand Morgan City its fourth loss in a row.
Vandebilt (8-1, 3-1) hosts Ellender Friday. The Tigers host Belle Chasse.
E.D. White 55, Berwick 0
The Cardinals scored 28 points in the first quarter and never looked back in a decisive win over struggling Berwick.
Drey Troclair recorded two touchdown passes for E.D. White.
Berwick (1-8, 0-4) travels to Erath Friday. The Cardinals (5-4, 2-1) play West St. Mary.
Patterson 55, South Lafourche 7
Terrance Johnson led the Lumberjacks with three touchdown passes and Kenny Hilliard rushed in two more in a big win over the Tarpons (1-8).
Patterson (6-3) hosts Franklin Friday. South Lafourche (1-8, 0-5) takes on H.L. Bourgeois.
