Ninth-ranked Bobcats face winless LaGrange
By Tom Dodge
In their first district game against Opelousas, the Bobcat offense exploded for 42 points. In their second clash at Washington-Marion it was the Eunice High defense and special teams that helped seal the win.
Friday night, Eunice High head coach Paul Trosclair is hoping for a complete team effort as the ninth-ranked Bobcats entertain LaGrange.
“Our defense played light’s out and the special teams had two blocked punts,” Trosclair said. “We were good in two-out-of three areas and it ended up a victory for us. We are hoping for a complete game one day, maybe we will get it done.”
The Gators advanced to the Class 4-A quarterfinals last season, but are struggling at 0-5 this year with losses to three undefeated teams.
“I think they over scheduled a bit,” Trosclair said. “It is a two-year contract, so I really feel for them.”
“But their defense is very good, probably the best we will play this year.”
LaGrange has lost to No. 3 Notre Dame (28-14), No. 5 Barbe (42-18), top-ranked University Lab (33-22), Calvary Baptist (35-6) and undefeated Rayne (14-12).
“They do a lot of things on offense as they have multiple looks with good skill people,” Trosclair said of the Gators. “They move the ball well with a lot of formations and they give you a lot to prepare for.”
In the 9-7 win over Washington-Marion, the Bobcats made the plays when they had to.
“It was a hard-fought game, there is no question about that,” the Bobcat coach said. “It was a desperation game for them as they had lost the week before to Rayne and they played really hard.”
The Indians scored their touchdown with 3:35 left in the first half with quarterback Quajae Boutte diving in from the one-yard line.
The Bobcats had a Darious Richard touchdown called back by a penalty as the Indians held the 7-0 advantage for most of the game.
On a second-and-five at the Indians’ 39, Chris Johnson swept left, found a seam, and raced for a touchdown. Wesley Hebert kicked the extra point to tie the game at 7-7.
On the ensuing possession, Eunice’s Travis Godfrey intercepted a Boutte pass and returned it 30 yards to the Washington-Marion 35.
The Cats couldn’t move the ball, but Hebert’s punt pinned the Indians back at their own 11. Two incomplete passes later, Boutte was pressured by Glenn Fruge into throwing the ball from the end zone. Intentional grounding was called on the play, giving the Cats a two-point safety with 3:08 left in the fourth quarter.
“Road wins are really hard to come by but it was a big win for us as our team hung in there for four quarters,” Trosclair said.
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