Kudzu-like grass causing havoc in Bayou Lafourche
November 21, 2006
Mary Guidry
November 24, 2006
The Vandebilt Terriers did something not many teams did against St. Thomas More this season—scored touchdowns on offense. Over the course of the year, St. Thomas More gave up just two offensive touchdowns. The Terriers had two offensive scores during the game, but it was not enough to overcome the Cougars, with Vandebilt being eliminated from the state playoffs, 21-12.
The Terriers outgained St. Thomas More 308-293 and had 20 first downs compared to the Cougars’ 12. However, Vandebilt struggled to finish drives. In the first quarter, Vandebilt had two drives of 10-plus plays, but turned the ball over on downs both times.
Throughout the game, Vandebilt ran four drives of 10-plus plays.
“We thought we were going to be able to run the ball right at them,” said Terriers’ coach Brad Villavaso. “That’s what we tried to do, and we were successful most of the night.”
Curtis Welch led the Terriers rushing attack gaining 139 yards on 26 attempts.
After Vandebilt failed to convert a fourth-and-seven on its first drive, the Terriers’ defense forced a St. Thomas More punt. However, two plays into Vandebilt’ second drive, Welch fumbled at the Cougars 48-yard line.
St. Thomas More did not waste time, scoring on the second play of the drive when Matt Vincent connected with Joe Louque eight yards downfield. Louque ran the final 40 yards for the score. Josh Ardoin’s extra point made it 7-0.
Vandebilt took its next drive to the Cougars 39-yard line, but Joel Ross failed to convert a fourth-and-one.
St. Thomas More responded with a six play, 61-yard drive to go up 14-0. This time, it was Michael Ashy running in from 26 yards out for the score. “We made two big fourth-down stops, and that was nice,” said St. Thomas More coach Joe Hightower. “But shoot, they just kept coming.”
On its next possession, Vandebilt’s ball-control offense finally paid off—but the key play was a 36-yard pass from Evan Mistich to Jeremy LeCompte. The completion took Vandy to the Cougars 18-yard line. Four plays later, Mistich connected with Garrett Harkless from three yards out for the score. But Grant Fleming blocked Braden Eschette’s extra point attempt, making it 14-6 at halftime.
Both teams struggled to move the ball in the third quarter, but St. Thomas More put together an impressive drive that ended the third quarter and started the fourth quarter. The Cougars drive went 82 yards in nine plays. Quarterback Matt Vincent connected with Lance Kelley on a swing pass. Kelley juked a defender and ran in from 29 yards out.
“It looked like they weren’t getting up on him very close,” said Hightower. “No. 12 is (Kelley) a pretty special guy for us, so we thought we’d get the ball in hands and see what he could do.”
Kelley finished the game with seven receptions for 110 yards and a touchdown.
Vandebilt answered with an equally impressive 12-play, 93-yard drive that ended with a touchdown. On the drive, Mistich ran for 61 yards—capping it off with a 21-yard scoring run with 5:24 remaining. However, a trick play on the two-point attempt failed, making it 21-12.
The Terriers lined up in its extra point formation, but the holder went under center while the kicker motioned out wide. The pass attempt was deflected and intercepted.
“It was kind of a miscommunication on our part,” said Villavaso. “One of the assistant coaches said they saw the two-point play on film, so I called timeout to not run it. Then we realized they didn’t see it on film. The guy was open … and (their guy) barely tipped the ball, but he made the play. Good teams make plays in big situations and they’re a good team.”
After St. Thomas More fumbled the ball on the first play of its next possession, it appeared Vandebilt would be poised to take it down for another score. Facing third-and-five from the Cougars 35-yard line, Mistich was sacked for a loss of 10 yards. And incomplete pass turned the ball over on downs, and St. Thomas More ran out the clock.
Villavaso was proud of his team, despite the loss. “I thought the kids played good on both sides of the ball,” he said. “Our kids played good. They didn’t play good enough to beat St. Thomas More, but I like to think we ran out of time.”
Staff photo by Matt LeBlanc/ Evan Mistich tried to throw a pass against St. Thomas More in Vandebilt’s 21-12 loss in the Regional round of the playoffs, Friday night. Mistich finished the game passing 5-for-11 for 72 yards and a touchdown. He also ran for 80 yards on 16 carries.
