LHS rains points on Trojans

LOREAUVILLE -- When it rains it pours, like it did Friday night on the scoreboard due to repeated cloudbursts and an offensive machine like Loreauville’s.

The Tigers piled up points and more points for the first three quarters in the rain by running through and around Sacred Heart-Ville Platte. When the storm was over, the Tigers ran off the soggy field with a convincing 42-0 District 6-2A victory over the Trojans.

“That’s how we ball, man,” Tigers’ sophomore Nick Julien yelled to no one in particular just before jogging into the lockerroom at Tiger Stadium.

Julien ran the Wildcat offense to perfection -- albeit in a limited showing -- and scored on 54- and 49-yard runs in the second quarter as the Tigers raced to a halftime lead of 28-0. They never looked back and even got a goal line stand in the fourth quarter to preserve the coveted shutout.

Julien and the Tigers had reason to shout after running their record to 7-2 overall and, more importantly, 3-1 in 6-2A.

They have a chance to clinch a share of the district title this week with a victory at home over Jeanerette Senior High coupled with a Port Barre win over Opelousas Catholic.

“We dominated a good football team. That’s why you go to Loreauville ... to play for a district title,” a jubilant Trent Delahoyssaye told his players in the postgame huddle as a light rain continued to fall.

Loreauville’s head coach was looking ahead to the regular-season finale against Jeanerette. Delahoussaye hopes the team comes up with another complete game.

“You know, we preached to the kids all week long to play a complete game. Last week against Port Barre we were up 21-0 -- it should have been 28-0 -- and right before the half they scored and early in the second half they scored,” he said, remembering a hard-fought 21-13 victory over the Red Devils. “We tried to get them to finish the game (vs. SH-VP). That’s what we did tonight. Hopefully, everything’s coming together for us at the right time. We’ve got a big game next week.”

The Tigers rolled up 464 yards on the ground behind Julien,109 yards on three carries, Wildcatter Jermaine Antoine, 121 yards on five carries, including a 61-yard gallop that ended with a lost fumble, and featured runningback B.J. Greene, 118 yards on 12 carries with touchdown runs of 9 and 10 yards.

Loreauville placekicker Zachary Galatas added to the rain of points with seven PATs.

“Oh, man, besides the weather, this was perfect,” said Ross Durke, the junior quarterback who directed the offensive attack.

Durke also scored the only touchdown his team would need on a 26-yard scamper at 9:41 in the first quarter.

“The offensive line came off the ball and the receivers held their blocks long enough for our runningbacks to get up the field. It was a perfect game,” Durke said. “Our offensive line did a helluva job. Like coach said, he gave them a challenge and they passed it in flying colors.”

Julien said, “You’ve got to give it to the offensive line. They gave us some big holes to run through tonight. We came out and did what we had to do.”

Of his two long scoring runs, he said the blockers got in front of him and let him make the play.

Loreauville’s defensive unit made the plays repeatedly.

The Trojans managed just 131 yards on the ground, most of it in the fourth quarter when the game was out of reach, and seven first downs.

The visitors threatened to score early in the fourth quarter on a drive that started after Tiger Chase Julien’s 3-yard touchdown run made it 42-0 at 1:09 in the third quarter. Sacred Heart drove 10 plays from its own 39 to the LHS 3.

On first-and-goal from there, senior quarterback Stuart Schexnayder left the ball on the ground and it was recovered by Tigers freshman Joshua Albert. It was one of three turnovers the winners came up with, including an interception at the end by sophomore Harley Mitchell.

“Our defense has been playing great all year. A shutout of a great offensive team like Sacred Heart was real positive,” Delahoussaye said. “At halftime, that’s all they talked about was keeping a shutout. They did a great job.”

He said his own offense is incorporating more and more Wildcat, starting a week earlier against Port Barre.

“It was exactly what you saw except (Nick) Julien started cramping,” he said.

Delahoussaye also praised Greene, a marked man.

“Oh, B.J.’s just a solid runningback. He showed great vision, great cuts, even on a wet field like tonight.

“B.J. brings his A game every night,” he said.