The Bulldogs find themselves sharing the top spot in District 6-4A with Teurlings Catholic, both undefeated after two rounds of league action. Breaux Bridge picked up its first district win by defeating St. Martinville last week, while The ’Ville is still looking for a league victory.
CECILIA-STM
The Bulldogs (2-0, 3-2) face what is likely to be their most difficult challenge of regular season play this Friday when the Cougars come calling.
Class 5A St. Thomas More has rolled up a perfect 5-0 record at mid-season, including impressive wins over Evangel and Acadiana, to rank as one of the top high school teams in Louisiana.
The Cougars have been averaging almost 37 points a game against stiff competition and rolled up more than 430 offensive yards in a surprisingly lopsided 42-17 win over Acadiana last Friday.
“They’re a typical STM team,” observes CHS coach Terry Martin. “They’re very sound in the fundamentals, are well coached and play as hard as any team we’ve seen this year. They move the ball well. The quarterback is really a converted tailback who can also throw the ball.
“We don’t see where they have any weaknesses. It’s gonna be a real challenge for us.”
While the Bulldogs were not severely tested by Beau Chene (winning 33-20), Martin feels his team may have “moved backward at bit” in some areas. “We missed at least seven tackles when they ran the kickoff back 75 yards for a touchdown,” he points out. “We’ll be concentrating again this week on the basics.”
Cecilia may be without the services of senior lineman Berney Huval, who is nursing a hand injury. Huval was listed as questionable Monday.
BB-OPELOUSAS
The junior running back tandem of Adrien Menard and Darian Thomas ripped off more than 300 yards and accounted for all three Breaux Bridge touchdowns while the Tiger defense limited St. Martinville to 125 net yards in a 20-12 win last Friday.
“They’ve been running well all year,” says coach Paul Broussard, “and that’s what we’re wanting to do. Our offensive line is coming around and getting better each week.”
Broussard is still concerned that his Tigers have suffered second half letdowns over the past two weeks. “That really hurt us in the loss to Cecilia,” he says. “I’m a bit concerned about not being able to finish things up in the second half. And we continue to have way too many penalties and turnovers. We’re going to be working to cut that down.”
Ace receiver Travin Dural sat out last Friday’s game with a sore knee, but he is expected to be 100 percent this week. Breaux Bridge had rolled up 451 yards through the air in its first four games, but had only two yards against St. Martinville. Offensive lineman Brandon Boyd is banged up and listed as questionable for the Opelousas game.
The St. Landry Tigers are winless in five starts and have been outscored 176 to 41 by their opponents.
But Broussard insists that Opelousas “is not bad at all. They are a very good 0 and 5 team.”
The head coach is also worried about the distraction of homecoming festivities on his players as they prepare for another important District 6-4A contest.
SM at BEAU CHENE
Despite the loss, St. Martinville played one of its better games of the season against Breaux Bridge.
The offense is still struggling to put up big numbers, but sophomore quarterback Jamiah Nelson had a little more time to handle the ball in the second half. “We made a few adjustments,” coach Marc Broussard says, “and that helped a bit.”
Sophomore Kendall Wiltz finished with four catches for 15 yards and a touchdown.
The Tigers hope to continue improving when they visit Beau Chene Friday. The Gators got off to a 3-0 start but have lost their last two games (to Abbeville and Cecilia) so they’re itching for a win.
“They’ve got good size,” reports Broussard. “And their two running backs can really go. We need to find a way to move the ball consistently and keep their offense off the field as much as possible.”
Senior defender Megiel Savoy is expected to return to action this Friday after sitting out the last two games, and the Tigers are otherwise healthy at mid-season.
Post a Comment