Blue Jays soar past Gators

NEW ROADS – The St. Edmund Blue Jays remained in second place in the District 5-1A race with a 47-0 win over False River Academy.

“It wasn’t about who we played but how we played,” St. Edmund head coach Thomas David said after the win. “We were mentally focused and executed on the field.

“I am proud of them for their effort.”

Pointe Coupee Central  (7-2, 4-0) grabbed a 26-20 overtime victory over Sacred Heart of Ville Platte to secure at least a share of their third-straight district title.

The Blue Jays (6-3, 3-1) entertain Sacred Heart (6-3, 1-2) this week in the regular season finale for Senior Night.

“It is a rivalry game against Sacred Heart,” David said of the next game. “We need to improve to get ready for the playoffs because after next week, you mess up amd it is over with.”

St. Edmund took the opening drive and went 70 yards with four straight runs by Zach LaFleur including a 55-yard gallop and  5-yard  touchdown run as the Blue Jays grabbed a 6-0 lead with 11:05 left in the first period.

After a FRA punt, the Blue Jays went 72 yards in six plays, aided by a strong 35-yard run by Ross LaFleur to move the ball inside the Gator 15.

Drew Brown connected with Stone LeJeune for an 8-yard touchdown. Brown then found Chase Dupre for the two-point conversion to push the Jays ahead, 14-0 with 8:08 left in the first period.

Another FRA punt, St. Edmund moved 76 yards in seven plays, aided by two runs by Zach LaFleur along with Brown’s tosses to Alex Hunt and Cullen Brown.

Zach LaFleur moved the ball to the Gator 1 and then Brown took a quarterback plunge into the end zone.

The extra point failed but the Jays held a  20-0 advantage with 4:37 remaining in the first quarter.

After forcing the Gators to punt again, the Blue Jays went 50 yards on three runs by Dray Veillion capped off by a 1-yard touchdown dive.

Drew Brown connected with Hunt for the two-point conversion to push the Jays ahead, 28-0 with 3:42 left in the first quarter.

Early in the second period, Drew Brown threw five straight completions to move the Jays 53 yards including a 19-yard scoring strike to Cullen Brown.

The extra point was good as St. Edmund forged ahead,  35-0 with 9:54 left before intermission.

Later in the period, Drew Brown returned a FRA punt 60 yards for an apparent score, but a block in the back penalty erased the points and the Jays took a 35-0 lead into the break.

The Gators were forced to punt to open the second half and Blue Jays responded with a six play, 65-yard drive finished with a 16-yard scramble by Drew Brown.

The extra point failed but the Jays led 41-0 with 5:34 left in the third frame.

On the first play of the next Gator drive, Zach LaFleur snared an interception and raced 20 yards untouched to the end zone.

The Jays then held on to their 47-0  advantage the rest of the contest.