Vikings pillage The ’Ville

BRYSON MALLERY (1) of St.
Martinville moves through an
opening created by linemen Ben
Guidry (66) and Kennan Charles
(73) as Christian Guidry (50) is
seen in the background. Mallery
led the Tiger offense with 81 yards
rushing and a 29-yard TD reception.

Photo by: Henri C. Bienvenu

LAFAYETTE – The Northside Vikings led from start to finish as the Lafayette team celebrated its homecoming with a 41-7 trouncing of the St. Martinville Tigers here last Friday.
It was the most points scored by the Vikings against St. Martinville, and the largest margin of victory, in the 20 game series between the two schools, although the Tigers still hold a 14-6 edge in the rivalry.
The Vikings scored two touchdowns in their first four plays from scrimmage and never looked back as they built a 28-7 halftime lead and added two second half scores to complete the rout.
St. Martinville got its only touchdown late in the first period to close the gap to 14-7, but Northside responded with a five-play, 70-yard drive that quickly put the Vikings back up by 14.
The Vikings used a balanced attack, but it was the pinpoint passing of quarterback Roshon Broussard (10-for-14, 154 yards, two touchdowns) that did the most damage to a reeling SM defense.
The Tigers didn’t help their cause any by giving up three crucial turnovers. And the Vikings often found themselves with good field position as the SM punting game averaged only 23.3 yards on six kicks.
It was the first district game for both teams as the Tigers dropped to 1-2 overall while the Vikings improved to 2-1.

Things went badly for the Tigers from the very first snap when quarterback Jules Tripeaux was sacked for an 11-yard loss. Christian Guidry’s first punt carried only 11 yards and Northside took over at the SM 30. Two plays later Ridge Wilson scored from the two.
The Vikings got the ball back near midfield following a 20-yard SM punt and on second down Terrell Alfred found Jeron McGulery wide open for a 51-yard TD strike on a halfback pass that caught the Tiger secondary napping.
SM’s only score came after Jacob Sampy picked off a Broussard pass at the Tiger 23. Bryson Mallery, who would lead SM rushers with 81 yards on 17 carries, got the Tigers moving with a 19-yard pickup and Tripeaux scrambled for 16 to the Viking 30. On 3rd-and-9 Tripeaux rifled a 29-yard TD strike to Mallery just seconds before the first period ended and Alex Oubre’s PAT kick made it 14-7.
But it took the Vikings less than two minutes to answer as they reeled off three first downs on four plays and Wilson got his second TD from the eight.
Tiger fans perked up a bit minutes later when Dequincy Lewis recovered a NHS fumble near midfield. But two plays later Tripeaux coughed up the ball and Northside took over at the SM 37.
The Vikings overcame a seven-yard sack and a holding penalty that had them looking at a 2nd-and-26 situation when Broussard connected with Dalfred Jones for a 30-yard pickup to the SM five. Broussard went to the air again, hitting Trevor Goodie for the TD that helped put the hosts up 28-7 midway through the second period.
St. Martinville then put together a 50-yard drive that eventually ran out of gas at the NHS 25 and the half ended without any additional scoring.

Northside took the second half kickoff and pretty much put the game away with a 10-play, 72-yard drive. Broussard completed five passes on the series, including a 20-yard strike to Goodie for the score, while also scrambling for a 23-yard gain on a 3rd-and-16 situation.
The ’Ville’s last scoring opportunity ended early in the final stanza when tight end Dedrien Francois fumbled after catching a pass from Tripeaux at the NHS nine.
The Vikings’ second unit took advantage of a Tripeaux fumble at the SM 15 late in the game as Azore Tijuan found a gaping hole in the Tiger defense and rambled for the final TD.
St. Martinville faces another big challenge this Friday when the Tigers host parish rival Breaux Bridge (2-1) as District 5-4A action continues.