Injury problems leading to losing skid for Tigers
Erath – St. Martinville Senior High’s recent struggles on the football field continued Thursday night as the Tigers were shut out for the second time this year in a 45-0 loss to Erath in the District 5-3A opener for both teams.
It was the Tigers’ fifth straight loss, dropping SMSH to 2-6 overall and 0-1 in district.
“It’s hard to overcome the depth issues,” St. Martinville coach Garrett Kreamer said. “A lot of our guys are going both ways and they are gassed out.
“You have to tip your hat to them. They are a good team and they have good numbers and their kids are playing well right now and they are well-coached.”
Erath, which entered the game as the No. 3 seed in Non-Select Division III, improved to 8-0 with the win and 1-0 in district.
The Bobcats scored 11 first quarter points on the way to a 24-0 halftime lead and Erath kept piling on the points in the second half until the lead reached 45-0 with about eight minutes left in the fourth quarter and the game went to running time the rest of the way.
Jahlil Charles ran for 130 yards and two touchdowns for the Bobcats on 11 carries. Aiden Bourque, Landon Lemaire and quarterback Jack Landry each had a rushing TD.
“All we can do is regroup, and stay the course,” Kreamer said. “We have two more games and we have to keep going.”
The SMSH coach said that the majority of the issues the Tigers have faced over the last month of the season, the current losing skid, comes from the fact that the team has been hampered with injuries.
“The injury got us big time and that’s why our numbers are down,” he said. “We are scratching and clawing, doing everything we can. “It is what it is and we have to find a way to finish it out.”
The SMSH coach is hoping to get some of the injured players back for the next game at home against Abbeville, including K.J. Fontenette, Trevon Wiltz, and a couple of other players, which will give the team some more depth for the final two games.
“It’s been hard with all the injuries,” Kreamer said. “All we can do is keep mixing and matching the kids and do the best that you can with what we have.
“I’m proud of the kids as they continue to fight.”
