No. 17 Bobcats visit No. 16 Westgate

Sometimes six points is the difference between winning and losing a football game. In the case of the football playoffs, it was the difference between a home game and a road trip for the Eunice Bobcats.

Eunice (6-4) finished with 11.20 power point ranking  and a No. 17 spot just behind Westgate’s 11.26 and No. 16 seeding.

The Bobcats will travel to New Iberia 7 p.m. on Thursday to take on the Tigers who finished the regular season at 5-4.

“We had four close games we could have won and any of those games would have put us at home,” Trosclair said. We didn’t, so we have to travel.”

Four of Westgate’s wins came against teams with losing records including 3-7 Carencro (19-6), 3-7 Northside (21-14), 2-8 Cecilia (28-16) and 3-7 St. Martinville (30-28). The Tigers also earned a 31-7 win over 3-A Franklin (6-4).

But Trosclair was quick to point out Westgate’s tough schedule that included losses to playoff -bound Franklin (31-7), Breaux Bridge (28-15) St. Thomas More (38-8) and Teurlings Catholic (14-0).

“They are very big and athletic,” Troclair said of the Tigers. “They are pretty balanced on offense but the games they won they ran right at people.”

The Bobcats rolled up 307 yards of total offense in the 27-3 over Beau Chene, while holding the Gators to 95 yards on the night.

“Our defense has played well in eight games this year,” the coach said. “I  am hoping that will keep us in the mix.”

Brennan Ashley leads the team with 137 tackles including 20 tackles last week against Beau Chene.

Jake Sonnier grabbed two interceptions with a 45-yard touchdown return.

“We need to be able to finish drives on offense,” the coach said. “We had 300 yards of offense (216 yards rushing and 91 yards passing )but we also fumbled six times. 

“We have to be able to hang onto the ball this week against Westgate.”

With a win, the Bobcats would face the winner between No. 32 South Terrebonne (5-5) and top-ranked Neville (9-0).