Franklin – The Breaux Bridge High School Tigers controlled the game for most of the night but let the lead slip away in a 23-14 loss to Franklin on Friday at J.C. Dry Stadium.
The Tigers had one of their best offensive games of the season, rolling up more than 400 yards, but a trick play for a 2-point conversion gave the Hornets the lead in the second half and Franklin added another TD for the win.
“It felt good that we were in control of the ballgame for the majority of it,” Breaux Bridge coach Tyler Pierce said. “Just there towards the end we made some mistakes and we didn’t capitalize by getting the ball into the end zone, and Franklin took advantage of that.”
The Tigers pulled a surprise onside kick at the start of the game and Noah Solomon scored on a 47-yard run on the first snap for a 7-0 BBHS lead.
“I think it shellshocked Franklin, and we played great defensively,” Pierce said.
An 81-yard touchdown pass from Dakowen “Pop” Celestine to Nelson Borel gave the Tigers another score.
But after Franklin pulled to within 14-13, the Hornets ran a fake kick for the PAT and converted the 2-point play for a 15-14 lead.
“That kind of put the pressure on us now that it wasn’t a tie ballgame,” Pierce said. “We just didn’t capitalize and they got another touchdown towards the end to seal everything.”
Solomon had 19 carries for 181 yards and a TD.
Celestine completed four of eight pass attempts for 137 yards and a TD and rushed for 27 yards on six carries. Borel had two catches for 101 yards and the TD.
“We had Cruz Trail back and that kind of kept some familiarity there with our slotbacks,” Pierce said. “The O-line still has some work to do just to get more aggressive and nastier, but they opened up enough (holes) to where we should’ve won that ballgame.”
Trail was injured in the Tigers’ game against St. Martinville in week 2. He and Solomon are the starting slotbacks.
Borel had 10 1/2 tackles, a fumble recovery and two batted passes to lead the defensive effort.
“He was the key cog,” Pierce said. Sophomore linebacker Destin Rabon had seven tackles and Celestine made three key solo tackles in the dime package at free safety.
Breaux Bridge (1-3) is looking for its second win of the season when the Tigers host Acadiana Renaissance Charter Academy (1-3) on Friday for homecoming.
“Truthfully, I think it’s kind of a little relief/a different energy to get past this one, because I know it drove some players and coaches crazy to let that one go,” Pierce said.
The Tigers did not suffer any injuries and are hoping to get two injured senior defensive starters, Kenyan Domonter and Tyler Judice, back in the next couple of weeks.
“That would be huge because those are two guys that we are desperately missing up front for sure,” Pierce said. “The guys stepping in are still doing a great job.”
