Tigers still have goals in front of them
October 19, 2016
Weekly Sports Mailbag – 10/19/16
October 19, 2016
Week 7 Scores
Destrehan 49
Central Lafourche 21
This has been a year of streaks for the Central Lafourche football team. The Trojans started out the year with four-straight wins. Since that time, they’ve come back to the pack and have endured three-straight losses, including another to Destrehan. Defense is the root of the Trojans’ problems right now. They’ve given up more than 100 points combined in the past two weeks, and 34 or more points in four-straight games.
Thibodaux 47
H.L. Bourgeois 21
The Tigers are the hottest team in the area, having won six-straight games after a Week 1 loss against a very, very sound St. Charles Catholic team. Early in the season, the Tigers were very one-dimensional offensively – heavily focused on the running game. But now, the Tigers are making plays down the field in the passing game, and they’ve scored 103 points in the past two weeks.
Lakeshore 47
Terrebonne 45
The Tigers absolutely, positively needed to top Lakeshore to stop their losing streak and to get in position in the Class 5A playoff chase. But it never materialized. Instead, the Tigers have lost four in a row, and face three-straight tough ones coming home to close the year – including Friday’s home matchup with East St. John.
Assumption 15
South Terrebonne 14
South Terrebonne was so, so close to their first win of the season. But it never materialized. Down 14-0 in the fourth quarter, Assumption rallied back, scoring two late-game touchdowns and a 2-point conversion to get the comeback win. The Mustangs haven’t always been the prettiest belle at the District 7-4A ball. But they’re 2-0 in district and are tied for first place. They have a huge game with Vandebilt on Friday.
Ellender 47
Morgan City 7
Ellender coach David McCormick had a minor medical procedure on Friday. Doctors suggested that he stay home and skip Friday night’s game with Morgan City. Not a chance! With McCormick not 100 percent, the Patriots played with tip-top output, walloping the Tigers in every phase in an easy win. With the victory, the Patriots are guaranteed to not have a losing season.
Vandebilt 31
South Lafourche 14
The Terriers get so much love for their offensive prowess. But on Friday night, they rode their defense to a huge victory against South Lafourche. The Terriers forced several key turnovers, and kept the Tarpons out of rhythm throughout the game. If one takes away a poor showing against Newman and Central Lafourche, Vandebilt’s defense has put opponents down in every game this season.
Patterson 38
E.D. White 14
It’s not often that Patterson is 0-6. They’re usually one of the stronger programs in Southeast Louisiana. But the Lumberjacks showed that even with their anemic record, they’re still painfully dangerous, soundly beating E.D. White on Friday for their first victory of the season. The Cardinals have three-straight tough games down the stretch – matchups with North Vermilion, Berwick and Erath – teams with a combined 13-8 record.
Varnado 52
CCA 20
Varnado got revenge on CCA on Friday night, making up for the Lions’ victory over them one year ago. The Lions got Caleb Seitz back from a broken collarbone in the game, but the Lions defense still had major problems holding back Varnado throughout the game. CCA will try and make amends this week – again at home against St. Martin’s.
Houma Christian 47
Ridgewood 3
After five-straight losses, the Houma Christian team put a hurting on Ridgewood, dominating all of the phases in the game in a huge win. The Warriors still control their destiny in the District 8-1A Championship race. That’s the good news. The bad news is that they still have to play the two best teams on paper – CCA and Varnado.
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Week 8 games
Central Lafourche @ Hahnville
H.L. Bourgeois @ Destrehan
East St. John @ Terrebonne
Thibodaux @ St. Augustine
Vandebilt @ Assumption
Ellender @ South Lafourche
South Terrebonne @ Morgan City
E.D. White @ North Vermilion
St. Martin’s @ CCA
Slaughter Charter @ Houma Christian
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Players of the Week – Week 7
Bronze – Houma Christian athlete Je’Corie Ward – Houma Christian standout Je’Corie Ward did just about everything for the Warriors on Friday night. He scored touchdowns on offense, defense and special teams, helping Houma Christian snap a long losing streak and secure a big win over Ridgewood.
Junior – Terrebonne quarterback Keshawn James – Terrebonne didn’t beat Lakeshore, but there was no gutsier effort on Friday than the effort Keshawn James gave his coaches and teammates. The third-team quarterback rushed for 261 yards and three scores in the shootout loss against Lakeshore.
Gold – Thibodaux standout Amik Robertson – Amik Robertson could win the gold medal honor literally every, single week, so admittedly, we try and find excuses to give the award to other kids to try and spread it out. But this week, he was too good to overlook, combining for well over 200 yards and four touchdowns.
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High-Five
1. Thibodaux – We’re curious and excited about every prep football game every Friday night. But we’re super excited to see how Thibodaux’s battle with St. Augustine will turn out. The Tigers are red hot, but the Purple Knights are among the best in the entire state. Heck, just this past weekend, they went down to the final play against nationally ranked John Curtis.
2. Vandebilt – Andrew Robison is so smooth under center for Vandebilt. He makes so many plays by being able to extend the length of the action with his legs. But the Terriers have very good weapons around Robison, as well, which helps the team’s cause. They will be a tough out for anyone they play.
3. Ellender – The Patriots have three or four playmakers that are all among some of the best in the area. And with Colby Poe starting to come around as a top-tier pocket passer, that Ellender offense is starting to look better and better. They’ll get a good barometer on Friday at South Lafourche.
4. Central Lafourche – The Trojans have sort of fallen off the wagon here in the past month. But the worst of their schedule has come and passed. We suspect that they’ll find a way to get into the winner’s circle at least a couple more times before the season is done.
5. South Lafourche – The Tarpons are beat up and bruised with big-time injuries all over their depth chart. But even with their poor record, they’re still firmly in the playoff hunt in Class 4A because of their brutally tough non-district schedule.
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By the numbers
24 – After a turnover-heavy first half that took the game to halftime tied at 7, Vandebilt’s offense exploded in the second half against South Lafourche, scoring 24 points to secure a huge win in the District 7-4A standings. Andrew Robison completed several deep passes in the onslaught.
492 – Thibodaux’s playmakers had no problem getting past H.L. Bourgeois’s defense on Friday night, helping the Tigers generate 492 yards of total offense in a runaway win. Thibodaux seems headed for a collision course with Destrehan in Week 9. But a tough meeting with St. Augustine awaits this Friday, as well.
41 – Terrebonne led Lakeshore 45-44 late in Friday night’s non-district game. But as time expired, Titans kicker Josh Massa ended Terrebonne’s hopes for victory, sinking a 41-yard field goal at the buzzer to give his team a two-point win. Massa isn’t even Lakeshore’s starting kicker. He was filling in for an injured player.
4 – E.D. White was playing Patterson close for some of Friday night’s game. But the explosive Lumberjacks scored four-straight touchdowns to get separation – a surge that allowed the Patterson team to seal their first win of the season.
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