Friday Night Lights - Week 8

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TARPONS SCORE 1ST WIN IN DISTRICT THRILLER THE TIMES • OCTOBER 21, 2019 • WEEK 8 FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS

1 OCTOBER 21, 2019

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FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS

2 OCTOBER 21, 2019

FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS

3 OCTOBER 21, 2019

PUBLISHER

Brian Rushing

EDITORIAL

Bonnie Rushing Editorial Director Casey Gisclair Managing Editor Mary Ditch Managing Editor Drew Miller Associate Editor

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TABLE OF

EDITOR’S NOTE THE BAYOU HAS CAUGHT UP TO THE RIVER When I was a kid, ‘The River’ was like some mythical superhero that could not be conquered, nor destroyed.

When our local teams went up against one another, we knew the games would be fun and competitive, but when ‘The River’ showed up, it was likely going to mean a loss was coming and most of the time, the games were lopsided.

Hahnville, Destrehan and East St. John are “The River” locally. They are the three River Parish teams that compete in our local Class 5A district.

Historically, all three are great, championship-winning programs. They’ve produced Louisiana legends like Ed Reed, Ryan Perrilloux, Laron Landry and all of those Jefferson brothers who have played at LSU. But in recent years, there’s been a little bit of a shift in the hierarchy.

Over the past few years, the Bayou area teams have stood tall, shined bright and have even beaten the Goliath “River” on a couple of occasions.

This year alone, Terrebonne has already beaten Destrehan and both Central Lafourche and Thibodaux have taken their swings at Hahnville. Both lost, but the games were close and competitive.

Those results have posed the question

CONTENTS 04 06 08 12 14 16 20 22

AND THEN THERE WERE 10 Smith shares his Top 10

DUGAS THRIVING The “do-it-all” coach shares his story

TIGERS OVER RIVAL BRAVES Class 5A has a great week

THE SCHEDULE IS SET See all 11 local schedules

TARPONS WIN A THRILLER Tarpons score thrilling, last-second win

TERRIERS TOP PARTIOTS Season heating up

BAYOU V. RIVER Bayou Regions seek wins over River teams

UNDER THE LIGHTS Enjoy photos from various games

— has the Bayou finally caught up to ‘The River’, and I think the answer is yes.

Now, it’s time to prove it.

To Thibodaux and Central Lafourche, good luck in your home dates this weekend with Destrehan and East St. John, respectively.

I know, I know, I’m not supposed to pick favorites.

But this is personal. This is our area versus ‘The River’.

It’s time to show those guys we can play a little ball here, too! •

OCTOBER 21, 2019 • WEEK 8

FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS

4 OCTOBER 21, 2019

COVER PHOTOGRAPHY Jose Delgado

PHOTOGRAPHY

Wendy Bergeron Jose Delgado Drew Miller Jared Shanklin Leo Bourg

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AND THEN THERE WERE 10

BY CASEY GISCLAIR

casey@rushing-media.com

Terrebonne High School junior Maason Smith broke Twitter last weekend when he announced his recruiting “Top 10” — the top schools currently on his radar.

Smith said in his social media post that he would still take interest from other schools outside of the Top 10, but that he will focus his energy on the schools he listed going forward. This, of course, means that it’s highly likely that one of the 10 schools listed in Smith’s list will secure his services at the next level.

Smith’s list is a who’s who of collegiate powers. In its entirety, the list consists of: Alabama, Mississippi State, Georgia, Florida, LSU, Texas, Texas A&M, Vanderbilt, Miami and Virginia.

The list has sparked a ton of social media chatter and speculation, as one might guess. Smith is a 5-star prospect and one of the best local prospects this area has ever had.

So I got to thinking this week — what would I do if I were in Maason’s shoes?

I know one thing — I’d enjoy every, single last second of the process.

When I was a student at LSU, I got to see first-hand the game that is recruiting.

I often saw prospects frisked into and out of the Manship Building. They were escorted by the big wigs — the deans of the school. Their “recruiting team” just so happened to be comprised of some of the most beautiful women on campus.

If I were Smith, I would use this opportunity to see the country. I would see as many schools as I could possibly see and meet as many people as I could possibly meet. Even if there is a clear leader and a school that is a “leader”, I would take my trips.

They’re free, so why not?

Some coaches think you’re “playing them” if you make a visit, but aren’t serious about attending their school. I say that’s wrong. Coaches sign kids on the promise that they’ll be your coach for 4 years.

But often they leave the second that someone offers them more money.

What’s good for the goose is good for the gander.

Smith should take all of his trips — even if he has a clear favorite. He should enjoy being courted, wined and dined. He may never get to experience anything like that for the FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS

rest of his life, so live it up and soak it all in while it’s in front of you.

I also think we, locally, have to have some perspective as this decision nears.

I’m an LSU graduate.

There is nothing in the world I would love to see more than Smith signing at LSU and then going on to Baton Rouge and dominating and making it to the NFL. That would be like a dream scenario for me, and thousands of other locals, too.

But at the same time, I think we all need to sit back a little, exhale and let the kid make the best decision for both he and his family — no matter what it may be.

So much of the conversation surrounding Smith’s recruitment goes like this. Local fans say they are happy for the prospect; they say they are eager to see him at the next level, then they

5 OCTOBER 21, 2019

drop a subtle or not-sosubtle hint that they want him in purple and gold.

I get it.

I’d love that, too.

But this is not our decision to make, and we have to stay out of Maason’s judgement and let him evaluate everything himself with his own eyes.

And besides, heck, there’s still so much time left.

Maason doesn’t have to make a decision until December of 2020. That’s literally an eternity away in football time. So much could happen and so much could change.

By the time next year, that Top 10 list may look drastically different.

I’ve covered the world of recruiting a long time, and I’ve learned to expect the unexpected.

Congrats on your Top 10, Maason. We’re proud of you, bud! Keep up the good work! •

DUGAS THRIVING IN ‘DO-IT-ALL’ ROLE FOR TIGERS PHOTO BY: JARED SHANKLIN

BY CASEY GISCLAIR

casey@rushing-media.com

By the end of Friday night’s game, Thibodaux High School football coach Chris Dugas was a mess.

His play sheet hung off his waist, while the tension slowly drained off his tense, tired body.

Thibodaux had just won an explosive, hardfought 42-35 win over Breaux Bridge in overtime — the sixth-straight time Thibodaux played a game decided by 10 points or less.

And like being a head football coach isn’t stressful enough, Dugas called every, single offensive and defensive

play for the team in the win — an unusual workload that’s working for the Tigers’ coach right now, but is also exhausting.

“Two Ibuprofen, a couple hours of sleep, then it’s back to work to do it all over again,” Dugas said with a laugh when asked how he felt after the Breaux Bridge game. “This year has been challenging. It’s just exhausting. It takes so much of a toll on you physically and mentally and I’m not sure I even know what my family looks like right now. But to be sitting where we are right now, it’s fulfilling. I’m so proud of the kids. They’ve worked so hard.”

Dugas is an offensive FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS

guy by trade, so calling plays isn’t new.

He was an offensive coordinator at Terrebonne High School for years before earning the head coaching job at Thibodaux — a position he’s held now for several seasons.

Thibodaux’s offense this year is explosive and dynamic — one of the most high-powered groups in the area.

The Tigers can run it or throw it. They can score quick, or they can methodically march.

S p e a r h e a d i n g the offense is junior quarterback Luke Alleman — a guy Dugas gave high praise to.

“He just might be the most talented offensive

6 OCTOBER 21, 2019

player in our district,” Dugas said, a bold statement considering the amazing talent in the area in Class 5A. “He isn’t a big guy. He doesn’t have overwhelming size. But he has a good arm, he’s accurate and he’s just a relentless competitor. He wants to do well. He loves the game. He watches a ton of film. You need that perfectionist type at that position and Luke is that for us.”

But what is new for Dugas is calling defense.

That’s something he’d never done in his time as a head coach.

The Tigers lost their defensive coordinator after last season, which left a void on the coaching

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staff. Dugas said he initially looked to fill the vacancy, but nothing ever materialized, so he ended up deciding to do it himself for the first time in his career.

After the first game of the season — a win against Riverside — Dugas offered a little insight into how the process was going.

“It’s a lot going on at one time,” Dugas said.

“I called a play, and one of my assistants said, ‘Coach, turn your play sheet around. I was calling a defensive play when we had the ball on offense.

I don’t know whether I’m coming or going sometimes, but the kids have been great, and the staff has always been there to help us make it work as best as possible, as well.”

It’s chaos, it’s fast-paced, it’s all of that and more.

But it’s working.

Thibodaux is 6-1 on the season after Friday night’s win. If the playoffs started today, the Tiger would be one of the top teams in the state in the Class 5A State Playoffs.

How far the Tigers can take it, that remains to be seen.

But after going 3-7 last fall and suffering numerous injuries, Dugas said to be in the hunt is fulfilling and thrilling for both he and the kids.

Of course, he wants to take this team all the way to the Dome and win the State Championship — like anyone else.

But no matter how it ends up, Dugas said he will be proud of the team for building off last year’s struggles and coming back strong.

He shied away from giving himself credit, but deep down, Dugas is also proud of the job he’s done this year with added responsibility and enhanced success.

“I feel like I’ve aged 30 years in the past 7 weeks,” Dugas said with a laugh.

“My body is exhausted.

But we’re going to keep pushing. We have a lot of things left to accomplish and all of our goals in front of us.” •

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TERREBONNE ROLLS PAST RIVAL BRAVES PHOTOS BY: WENDY BERGERON

FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS

8 OCTOBER 21, 2019

BY CASEY GISCLAIR

casey@rushing-media.com

Terrebonne got knocked in the mouth on Friday night against rival H.L. Bourgeois.

But getting a little taste of their own blood woke up the hungry Tigers and they dominated the rest of the game, cruising past their heated rivals.

Terrebonne beat H.L. Bourgeois 37-7 on Friday, using dominant defense and ground-heavy offense to secure the comfortable win.

Coach Gary Hill said he wasn’t happy with the way his team played early, but was pleased that they settled into the game and scored a hard-fought win.

Terrebonne is now 4-3 on the year, while H.L.

Bourgeois fell to 1-6.

“I thought we lacked a little energy early on,” Hill said. “We didn’t quite have the same fire that we’d been playing with.

But we got into the game, and I thought played pretty well after a rough start.”

The Braves actually controlled the early stages of the game.

They punted to Terrebonne, but the Tigers muffed the punt, giving the ball to the Braves with great field position. The Braves took advantage of the mistake and marched straight down the field for a touchdown — a pass from Jordan Rainey to Demarcus Singleton to go up 7-0.

After that score, the Braves actually held

FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS

tough for the rest of the first quarter, as well. The Tigers drove late in the first quarter, but stalled, settling for a short field goal to trim the deficit to 7-3 after a quarter.

The final three quarters were all Terrebonne, though.

The Tigers took the lead early in the second on a dominant offensive drive capped by a touchdown run from Justin Navy to go up 10-7.

After a defensive stop, the Tigers added on before halftime on another long drive — this time capped on a touchdown run from Ja’khi Douglas to go up 17-7 at halftime.

Hill said the Tigers were without quarterback Ryan Williams who missed the game with an illness. In his

9 OCTOBER 21, 2019

absence, the team played Douglas and featured a more ground-heavy attack. Terrebonne rushed for more than 300 yards in the game.

“We knew without Ryan, we’d have to be a little more heavy in the run game, but I thought our offensive line took that challenge and did an excellent job throughout the game,” Hill said. “We woke up after that slow start and started to play with that intensity that we have to play with against the teams in this district.”

Terrebonne’s defense was dynamite throughout the game.

After the early scoring drive, H.L. Bourgeois did next to nothing the rest of the game, getting stymied by the Tigers up front.

Terrebonne allowed just more than 50 total yards for the game — forcing stop after stop on a Braves’ offense that lacked answers.

With extra possessions in the second half, the Tigers added insurance, adding a touchdown from Jaylin Lucas and another score from Douglas in the second half. In between those scores, the Tigers’ defense also roared on a fumble recovery for a touchdown from AJ Walter.

“Our defense was tremendous,” Hill said.

“We have a lot of young guys there who are starting to grow into their roles and get that confidence.

I thought we saw a lot of growth from that group on Friday night.”

With the win, the Tigers are now 4-3 on the season.

But the next test may be the team’s biggest of the season — a home date with Brother Martin.

THIBODAUX ROLLS TO BIG WIN AT BREAUX BRIDGE It never fails.

Every week, Thibodaux finds itself in a close, hardfought game that isn’t decided until the final seconds.

And most times, they find a way to win.

The Tigers beat Breaux Bridge 42-35 in overtime on Friday, securing a huge win against the powerful west Louisiana foe.

The teams entered overtime tied at 35.

Thibodaux got the ball first in the extra period and struck when quarterback Luke Alleman his receiver Kyren Lacy for a score.

From there, Thibodaux’s defense did the rest, stiffening to stop Breaux Bridge to secure the win.

Coach Chris Dugas said he was so proud of the way Thibodaux played so far away from home against a quality opponent.

“You can’t say enough

FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS

about the kids’ effort,” Dugas said.

“We competed, and look, that’s an awfully good football team. They have athletes all over the field. We just made one more play than they did and found a way to win.”

With the win, the Tigers are now 6-1 on the season.

HAHNVILLE RUNS PAST CENTRAL LAFOURCHE Central Lafourche just could never get ahead on Friday against Hahnville.

They scored a bunch, but it just was one of those nights where every time the Trojans scored, Hahnville would answer in a 42-30 win for the Tigers.

With the loss, the Trojans are now 5-2 on the season. Hahnville remains unblemished — a perfect 7-0.

Trojans coach Keith Menard said he was proud of the fight his team showed, adding that Hahnville’s defensive front

10 OCTOBER 21, 2019

was fierce, but the Trojans still were able to move the football and score 30 points.

“It was a good football game,” Menard said.

“We’d score, then they’d top us and score. We never could get the ball back with that chance to take the lead. But look, we still have some big games left. We have chances to get a home playoff game.

We have to get better and keep working hard.”

Central Lafourche hosts East St. John next week. •

CLASS 5A SCOREBOARD Terrebonne 37, H.L. Bourgeois 7 Hahnville 42, Central Lafourche 30 East St. John 14, Destrehan 13 Thibodaux 42, Breaux Bridge 35

FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS

11 OCTOBER 21, 2019

2019 HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL

SCHEDULES SOUTH LAFOURCHE

CENTRAL LAFOURCHE

E.D. WHITE

Sept. 6 - vs. St. Charles [L] Sept. 13 - vs. Thibodaux [L] Sept. 20 - at Central Lafourche [L] Sept. 27 - at Lutcher [L] Oct. 4 - at Belle Chasse [L] Oct. 11 - at Vandebilt Catholic [L] Oct. 18 - vs. South Terrebonne [W] Oct. 25 - vs. Morgan City Nov. 1 - vs. Ellender Nov. 8 - at Assumption

Sept. 6 - vs. White Castle [W] Sept. 13 - vs. Franklin [W] Sept. 20 - vs. South Lafourche [W] Sept. 27 - vs. Thibodaux [L] Oct. 4 - at Ellender [W] Oct. 11 - vs. H.L. Bourgeois [W] Oct. 18 - at Hahnville [L] Oct. 25 - vs. East St. John Nov. 1 - at Destrehan Nov. 8 - at Terrebonne

Sept. 6 - at Vandebilt Catholic [W] Sept. 13 - at H.L. Bourgeois [W] Sept. 20 - vs. Assumption [L] Sept. 27 - at St. Charles Catholic [L] Oct. 4 - vs. South Terrebonne [L] Oct. 11 - vs. Donaldsonville [L] Oct. 18 - at Patterson [W] Oct. 25 - vs. Lutcher Nov. 1 - at Berwick Nov. 8 - vs. St. James

THIBODAUX

SOUTH TERREBONNE

ELLENDER MEMORIAL

Sept. 6 - vs. Riverside [W] Sept. 13 - at South Lafourche [W] Sept. 20 - vs. McDonogh 35 [W] Sept. 27 - at Central Lafourche [W] Oct. 4 - vs. Terrebonne [W] Oct. 11 - vs. Hahnville [L] Oct. 18 - at Breaux Bridge [W] Oct. 25 - vs. Destrehan Nov. 1 - at H.L. Bourgeois Nov. 8 - at East St. John

Sept. 6 - vs. H.L. Bourgeois [W] Sept. 13 - at Berwick [W] Sept. 20 - vs. Terrebonne [L] Sept. 27 - at Patterson [W] Oct. 4 - at E.D. White [W] Oct. 11 - vs. Assumption [L] Oct. 18 - at South Lafourche [L] Oct. 25 - vs. Vandebilt Catholic Oct. 31 - vs. Morgan City Nov. 8 - at Ellender

Sept. 5 - at Thomas Jefferson [W] Sept. 13 - vs. Terrebonne [L] Sept. 20 - at H.L. Bourgeois [L] Sept. 27 - vs. McMain [L] Oct. 4 - vs. Central Lafourche [L] Oct. 10 - at Morgan City [W] Oct. 18 - vs. Vandebilt Catholic [L] Oct. 25 - at Assumption Nov. 1 - at South Lafourche Nov. 8 - vs. South Terrebonne

FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS

12 OCTOBER 21, 2019

VANDEBILT CATHOLIC

TERREBONNE

H.L. BOURGEOIS

Sept. 6 - vs. E.D. White [L] Sept. 13 - vs. Westgate [L] Sept. 20 - at Berwick [W] Sept. 27 - at Dutchtown [L] Oct. 4 - vs. Welsh [W] Oct. 11 - vs. South Lafourche [W] Oct. 18 - at Ellender [W] Oct. 25 - at South Terrebonne Nov. 1 - at Assumption Nov. 8 - vs. Morgan City

Sept. 6 - vs. Jesuit [L] Sept. 13 - at Ellender [W] Sept. 20 - at South Terrebonne [W] Sept. 27 - vs. Hahnville [L] Oct. 4 - at Thibodaux [L] Oct. 11 - vs. Destrehan [W] Oct. 18 - at H.L. Bourgeois [W] Oct. 25 - vs. Brother Martin Nov. 1 - at East St. John Nov. 8 - vs. Central Lafourche

Sept. 6 - at South Terrebonne [L] Sept. 13 - vs. E.D. White [L] Sept. 20 - vs. Ellender [W] Sept. 27 - at East St. John [L] Oct. 4 - vs. Destrehan [L] Oct. 11 - at Central Lafourche [L] Oct. 18 - vs. Terrebonne [L] Oct. 25 - at Hahnville Nov. 1 - vs. Thibodaux Nov. 8 - at Archbishop Shaw

COVENANT CHRISTIAN

HOUMA CHRISTIAN

WEEK 8 SCHEDULE

Sept. 6 - at Highland Baptist [L]

South Lafourche vs. Morgan City

Sept. 6 - vs. Central Private [L] Sept. 13 - vs. Sci Academy [W] Sept. 20 - BYE WEEK Sept. 27 - vs. Loranger [L] Oct. 4 - vs. St. John [W] Oct. 11 - at Highland Baptist [L] Oct. 18 - vs. Centerville [L] Oct. 25 - at Central Catholic Nov. 1 - vs. Vermilion Catholic Nov. 8 - at Hanson Memorial

Sept. 13 - vs. Westminster Christian [L]

Sept. 20 - at Ascension Christian [L] Sept. 26 - at West St. Mary [L] Oct. 4 - at Loreauville [L] Oct. 10 - vs. Jeanerette [L] Oct. 18 - vs. Asc. Episcopal [L] Oct. 25 - vs. Catholic - New Iberia

Nov. 1 - at Franklin Nov. 8 - vs. Delcambre

Central Lafourche vs. East St. John Thibodaux vs. Destrehan E.D. White vs. Lutcher South Terrebonne vs. Vandebilt Assumption vs. Ellender Terrebonne vs. Brother Martin Hahnville vs. H.L. Bourgeois Central Catholic vs. CCA Houma Christian vs. Catholic (NI)

FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS

13 OCTOBER 21, 2019

TARPONS ADD OFFENSIVE ‘WRINKLES’ TO HELP BOOST CONSISTENT, STINGY DEFENSE PHOTO BY: JOSE DELGADO

BY CASEY GISCLAIR

casey@rushing-media.com

Those last 9 seconds felt like an eternity.

The score was 13-10 in favor of South Lafourche.

But South Terrebonne was driving — fresh off a 4th and 18 conversion.

It was third and goal from the 4-yard-line.

Quarterback Christian Arceneaux rolled to his right — on the search for green grass. But there was none. He was crushed by the defense, then was dropped.

There were exactly 9 seconds on the clock.

Chaos ensued.

Some Gators coaches appeared to signal to the offense to clock the ball, but they couldn’t. It was fourth down.

The field goal team didn’t have time to run onto the field.

Arceneaux, himself, was shaking out the cobwebs after taking a big hit, and all the while, the clock kept slowly bleeding out.

3 … 2 … 1… 0 … victory.

For the first time all season, South Lafourche had won a game — a stunning, 13-10 upset of the Gators.

After the game, coach Blake Forsythe was happy and relieved. After losing FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS

six-straight games to open the year, he and his team were under a lot of pressure.

But they released that pressure and were able to exhale — at least for one week — after a huge, thrilling, last-second win.

“Like you said, the ending felt like it took forever,” Forsythe said.

“We made the play, and my only focus was just getting our guys back on our side of the ball so we didn’t get a 15-yard penalty to stop the clock and give them a chance.

It felt like a lifetime, but eventually those 9 seconds came off the clock and we

14 OCTOBER 21, 2019

were just able to get the win. It was a wild finish, but we were happy to be on the right end of it.”

For South Lafourche, the victory was after a week of chaos.

The Tarpons played a brutal non-district schedule and started 0-5. But district was supposed to be better, and after losing 18-3 to Vandebilt, there were little birdies chirping about the program.

But Forsythe and his staff went to work this week, adding new looks to the team’s struggling option-based offense.

Instead of just Flex-

based inside running, the Tarpons added some offtackle I-formation power plays.

On the first drive of the game, the Tarpons went straight down the field and scored a touchdown.

“It was our same base offense, but just some little wrinkles added to it,” Forsythe said. “We ran off-tackle some, we ran out of some different formations. And I think by having those different looks, it was able to open up our option stuff a little bit more, too. We were able to keep the defense guessing.”

And by having the football a little more and possessing it more efficiently throughout the game, the Tarpons’ defense was able to keep enough gas in the tank to win the game late.

South Lafourche has been dominant defensively throughout the season, but they’ve gotten little help on the scoreboard from their offense.

South Lafourche held mighty Thibodaux to 12 points and has been up to the challenge against several of the highpowered offenses the team has faced this year.

The Tarpons are stout up front with guys like Elijah Barnett, Timmy Gisclair, Hunter Condley, Wes Allemand, Austin Danos and others stopping the run. In the back-end, Joseph Pierce, Caleb Carr, Nathan Aucoin, Brodie Guidry and others are locking up receivers, and if quarterbacks get loose with the ball, free safety

Jake Pitre is snatching it out of the air.

“Those guys have been good all season,” Forsythe said. “We sometimes run out of gas a little bit, but those kids compete and give us everything they have every time we take the field.”

The problem to this point had been an anemic offense that asked that defense to be on the field too long, but on Friday night, that wasn’t the case.

The Tarpons scored 13 points and had chances for more. The team missed an extra point and a short field goal.

And more important than the actual points was the time of possession in the game, which was about even — a rarity this season for South Lafourche.

So now, looking ahead, the Tarpons have some seemingly calmer waters ahead. They’ll be favored to beat both Morgan City and Ellender in the next two weeks, and if they do, they’ll play a likely district championship game at Assumption in Week 10.

If the Tarpons win the final three games, they’re a lock for postseason. If they win two of the three, they’ll be close.

But heck, to be talking about the playoffs after how this season has started out? That’s something no one expected 3-4 days ago for this team.

“Our goals are still in front of us,” Forsythe said. “We just have to keep working and keep improving and keep trying to be as good as we can be.” • FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS

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TERRIERS ROLL TO SHUTOUT WIN OVER ELLENDER

FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS

16 OCTOBER 21, 2019

PHOTOS BY: LEO BOURG

BY CASEY GISCLAIR

casey@rushing-media.com

All the talk in our local Class 4A district right now is about Assumption.

And heck, rightfully so — those guys are awfully good.

But Vandebilt Catholic is getting better every week, too — their most recent performance just may have been their best of the season.

The Terriers beat Ellender 29-0 on Friday night — a third-straight win and a third-straight dominant defensive performance.

With the win, the Terriers are now 4-3 on the season and 2-0 in district. The Terriers and Mustangs are the only two undefeated teams so far in the district — on an apparent collision course with one another in Week 9 in Napoleonville.

“Our defense continues to get better and make plays,” Terriers coach Lance Ledet said earlier this season. “Those kids are aggressive and they make plays. They are physical and love to fly to the football. We’re very happy with the way they’ve been playing.”

That defense powered Vandebilt on Friday.

It was a struggle early.

The game was scoreless at the end of the first quarter and scoreless midway through the second quarter.

But the dams broke in the final six minutes of the first half.

The Terriers scored first on a 9-yard touchdown

run from Gavin Dangle to go up 7-0.

Then disaster struck for Ellender.

On the next offensive possession, the Patriots fumbled deep in their own territory. With possession, Vandebilt cashed in with a short touchdown run to go up 14-0 — a lead which led through half.

Patriots coach David McCormick said he was not happy with the way his team executed offensively throughout the game.

The Patriots were without several key playmakers in the game, but McCormick said Ellender was plagued by too many mental mistakes.

“It’s frustrating. God dog, it’s frustrating,” McCormick said. “Because I know how close we are to being a really good football team. But it’s just little things here and there and it’s sometimes like we’re so close, but we’re so far. It’s very frustrating. “ In the second half, Ellender battling, but Vandebilt just had too much.

The third quarter didn’t have any points, sending the game to the final 12 minutes with Vandebilt holding that same 14-0 lead.

But the Terriers finished with a flurry to send the game to its final margin.

Daigle hit Hunter Porche for a touchdown pass early in the quarter to make the game 20-0. The Terriers then added a field goal to go up 23-0.

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punched one in to finish the scoring on the night and to seal Vandebilt’s victory.

Ledet said he wasn’t happy with the Terriers’ turnovers in the win.

Turnovers have plagued the team throughout the season. This is now the third-straight game they have multiple giveaways.

“We can’t keep doing that. It’s going to cost us,” Ledet said. “We have to protect the football and value possession better than we are now. You can’t make those types of mistakes and be successful over the long haul.”

With the win, the Terriers now move toward a huge district matchup with South Terrebonne — a game which will have huge district championship implications.

For Ellender, the goal is to pick up the pieces and find ways to get wins.

“We want to finish the season strong,” McCormick said. “We think we’re close, but we have to find some answers.”

TARPONS GET 1ST WIN OVER GATORS South Lafourche finally got one.

After six-straight losses to open the year, the Tarpons finally finished on top on Friday, beating South Terrebonne 13-10 in a game that literally went down to the last play.

The Tarpons led 13-3 in the fourth quarter, but the Gators scored to make it 13-10.

After forcing a stop, the Gators got the ball back late and were driving —

advancing to the Tarpons’ 4-yard-line.

But Christian Arceneaux’s last-ditch attempt to run it into the end zone came up short late, and the Gators ran out of time, sealing the win for the Tarpons.

“We finally finished one,” South Lafourche football coach Blake Forsythe said. “I think for us, the biggest difference was being at home. We’d been on the road the past 4 weeks and there’s just nothing quite like playing in your own stadium in front of your own fans.”

The Tarpons got touchdowns from fullback Derin Doucet and quarterback Patrick Gisclair in the win — two sophomores.

Forsythe said the team has several sophomore starters and many of them made plays in Friday night’s win.

The coach also applauded the play of his offensive and defensive lines.

“We were better up front,” Forsythe said. “We challenged those kids and they really did a great job for us.” •

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LAFOURCHE V. RIVER MATCHUPS HIGHLIGHT WEEK 8 SLATE PHOTO BY: DREW MILLER

BY CASEY GISCLAIR

casey@rushing-media.com

rowdy Bayou crowds.

Usually, this is the part of the magazine where we put the previous week’s games in the rear-view mirror and look ahead at the premier matchup of the next week.

But this week, we couldn’t pick just one.

This week, there are two Bayou vs. River matchups that will greatly shape the future of the local Class 5A district.

And both games will be played here on our local turf.

Stakes will be high on Friday at both Central Lafourche and Thibodaux — two of the biggest games of the season to this point.

The Trojans will host East St. John, while the Tigers host Destrehan.

Both games will have huge playoff implications.

Both games are expected to be played before loud,

TROJANS LOOK TO DEFEND THEIR TURF AGAINST EAST ST. JOHN Central Lafourche has a goal every season — win every, single home game.

Thibodaux already ensured that that goal won’t be a reality this season. But the Trojans now want to make sure that they don’t taste home defeat again in a showdown with East St. John.

The Trojans are hungry after losing a shootout last Friday against Hahnville.

Central Lafourche’s offense was solid in the game, but the defense couldn’t get enough stops to allow the team to secure the win.

Trojans coach Keith Menard said Friday’s game will be big and he wants the home crowd to be a factor in the game.

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The Trojans have one of the best home-field advantages in the entire Houma-Thibodaux area — if not the state.

“We want them to come out, be loud and be a factor in the ballgame,” Menard said. “It’s Senior Night, so that means a lot to our kids. We always have a goal to win every home game. We know that this is a going to be a big football game for us for playoff positioning and all that. It’s going to be a good football game between two good football teams.”

Locally, we know all about the Trojans. They’re a run-heavy dominant offense with senior Deon Jenkins generating most of the headlines, but playmakers all over the field.

The Wildcats will be arguably the stiffest challenge for that Central Lafourche offense all season.

20 OCTOBER 21, 2019

The Wildcats are 5-2 on the season — just like the Trojans.

Defensively, they’re lethal. On Friday, they allowed just 13 points to a very good Destrehan offense.

They also held Hahnville to just 14 points earlier this year.

Menard said the Wildcats have injuries offensively, but are lethal defensively — as fast a defense as the Trojans have seen this season.

But Menard also said that Hahnville’s defense was pretty good, too, but the Trojans still scored 30 points in the game.

“If we execute and we play the way we play, we think there will be opportunities for success,” Menard said. “Our kids believe.”

But Menard said Central Lafourche also know that while beat up, the Wildcats will be able to make plays offensively,

too. He said a key to the game will be getting off the field on third downs.

The winner of Friday’s game will earn key postseason seeding. Both teams are in the playoff race right now, but could use a little wiggle room.

Both teams would be on the road if postseason started today.

TIGERS HOPE TO HAND DESTREHAN THIRDSTRAIGHT LOSS Destrehan has lost two games in a row — the first time in a long, long time that that’s happened.

On Friday, Thibodaux hopes to give them their third.

Thibodaux wants to make a statement on Friday when they host Destrehan — a team that’s long been the Tigers’ nemesis over the years.

Thibodaux is 6-1 on the season and is currently one of the best teams in Class 5A, according to power ratings projections.

A win over Destrehan would he huge — both to keep the momentum rolling forward, but also to show the Tigers that they can contend with and beat the big boys out on the river.

Coach Chris Dugas said Destrehan will present challenges — they always do. But he thinks his team is up to the test. “Our kids are excited.

We know it’s going to be a big home crowd and we think it’s going to be a good football game between two good teams,� Dugas said. “They’re going to be itching to come down here after losing a couple

ballgames. We’re going to be looking to keep our momentum going. It’s going to be an exciting game.�

Thibodaux can hit opponents in any number of directions offensively with one of the most explosive offenses in the area.

The Tigers will be challenged by a stout Destrehan defense on Friday, but Dugas said if Thibodaux executes, he thinks they’ll be successful.

Thibodaux has weapons and playmakers all over the field. They’ve put up big numbers on just about everyone they’ve played — including on Friday in a road win at Breaux Bridge.

The challenge will be to get stops against a Destrehan offense with athletes.

The Wildcats have Alabama commit Kyle Edwards at running back — one of the top players in the state.

They also have talented skill guys to compliment young freshman quarterback Jai Eugene. “They have a lot of ways they can hurt you,� Dugas said.

One of the big keys to the game may be turnovers and special teams.

At times this season, Thibodaux has given the ball away too much — something they can’t do on Friday night.

But the Tigers may have a clear edge in special teams with kicker Peyton Domangue blossoming into one of the top legs in the area. •

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