E.D. White takes cross country state titles
November 20, 2012
Saints play best game of the season in blowout
November 20, 2012
Vandebilt Catholic Elijah McGuire lay on the turf of Buddy Marcello Stadium last Friday night in pain.
The entire Terrier community – players, coaches and fans alike – collectively held its breath as the Vandebilt superstar clutched the turf in frustration, wondering if he’d be able to return to the game.
“Everything just locked up,” McGuire said. “I couldn’t move.”
At the time of McGuire’s injury, the scoreboard read 15-14 in favor of the Terriers’ second-round playoff opponent Franklin Parish. Sure, Vandebilt was driving deep into its opponent’s territory, but the clock was grinding inside of three minutes in the fourth quarter. An injury to a player McGuire’s caliber would have been crippling to the team’s chances of getting the go-ahead score.
“Eli, 1-5, Eli, 1-5,” the Terrier fans chanted and clapped in unison as the quarterback gingerly limped to the sidelines to receive stretching for his diagnosed injury – cramps.
While lying on the sidelines, McGuire said he realized something – there’s no way the Terriers were going home empty-handed on this night.
After missing just two plays with the injury, McGuire popped up and overcame the exhaustion and returned to the field. He did so to an eruption of emotion from the jam-packed home crowd.
Once inside the white lines, McGuire helped the Terriers cap a 20-play final drive with a gutsy 6-yard touchdown run to put the team ahead 20-15.
The run marked the completion of a 165-yard, two-touchdown game for McGuire, who had more than 60 yards on the final drive alone.
It also pushed Vandebilt to the LHSAA Class 4A State Quarterfinals with the five-point victory.
“This was in my mind the whole time, ‘I cannot let us lose this game,’” McGuire said following the game. “I’d never let my team down and I’ll always do whatever I have to do for us to get a win. If that means playing hurt for a few minutes, so be it.”
“Elijah McGuire always finds a way,” Vandebilt coach Brad Villavaso added. “He’s all about his teammates and he’s all about winning. He’s a tremendous competitor.”
McGuire’s late heroics were the culmination of a total-team comeback for Vandebilt.
Franklin Parish stormed out of the gates in Friday’s game and punished Vandebilt with its explosive veer offensive attack.
The Patriots made Vandebilt punt on the opening drive of the game and took the football down the field, a drive capped by a 33-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Steven Williams to receiver Marcus Bingham.
That score made the game 8-0 after a pair of offsides penalties on the extra point prompted Franklin Parish to go for a 2-point conversion – a play that they successfully converted.
After another empty-handed Vandebilt drive, Franklin Parish quickly went ahead 15-0 on a 60-yard keeper from Williams with just more than three minutes to play in the opening quarter.
Down 15 points with three quarters to play is never a desirable position. Villavaso said he huddled his team and told them that if they kept playing hard, victory would be available late in the game.
“I just tried to convince our guys that they weren’t beating us – we were just making mistakes and they were capitalizing on them,” Villavaso said. “All we had to do to get back into the game was cut back on the mistakes and take back control of the game.”
The Terriers heeded their coach’s advice. Following the Patriots’ second score, the rest of the game was predominantly dominated by Vandebilt.
The Terriers tasted the scoreboard in its third drive, a 65-yard trek capped by Gage Corte, which pushed the score to 15-7.
That score quickly became 15-14 after Vandebilt forced a Patriots’ punt and drove 47 yards down the field for a score before halftime – a 15-yard run by McGuire.
Both teams spent the entire third quarter trading possessions – a cycle that gave Vandebilt the football with just more than 11 minutes to play.
That’s when McGuire worked his magic on the 20-play drive filled with drama and heroics.
The Terriers converted multiple third and fourth downs in the drive – most of the plays were McGuire keepers.
“It was like he was Superman,” Franklin Parish coach Barry Sebren said. “He just wasn’t going to let them come up short tonight. … He’s one of those special kids.”
“The end of the game drive on our part was fricken tremendous,” Villavaso added. “To hold the ball that long is amazing.”
Following the final touchdown of the game, the Patriots’ last-ditch drive was thwarted when Vandebilt safety Jordan Bergeron picked off a pass with just more than a minute to play, which iced the win.
With the victory, Vandebilt will now experience playoff football on the road.
The Terriers will travel to take on No. 1 Neville on Friday night.
Neville has been a force throughout the season with an unblemished 11-0 record.
They have not been challenged late in a game this season and their closest victory margin of the season was a 21-3 victory they posted over Ouachita on Sept 14.
Villavaso acknowledged the Terriers face a monumental challenge Friday as they attempt to upset Neville.
McGuire agreed, but added that the team will be ready.
“I think we have a chance,” he said. “We’ll definitely give it our best shot – that’s for sure.”
As Franklin Parish found out Friday night, McGuire’s best is usually good enough to get the job done.
Vandebilt Catholic football players (from left) Austin Boquet, Bryson Chaisson, Tyler Falcon, Joseph Breerwood, Chase Doiron, Grant Stevens and Blake Bowie sing the Terriers’ alma mater following Friday’s 20-15 second-round playoff win against Franklin Parish. Vandebilt rallied during the victory and overcame a 15-0 first quarter deficit to secure a spot in the next round of the playoffs. With the win, the Terriers advanced to the LHSAA Class 4A State Quarterfinals, where they will take on No. 1 Neville on Friday at 7 p.m.
