No. 5 Blue Jays host No. 12 Bulldogs

The way the LHSAA set up the Division IV brackets, the St. Edmund Blue Jays advanced to the second round without playing a down.
“We got some good work in and had a chance to heal up a few guys,” St. Edmund head coach Thomas David said of the week off.
The top five teams advanced, including the No. 5 Blue Jays (7-3,4-1), who entertain No. 12 Ascension Catholic at 7 p.m. Friday.
The Bulldogs rolled to a 41-14 Bi-district win over No. 21 Ascension Episcopal.
Running back James Martin scored four times on runs of 13, 50, 3 and 6 yards in the win.
“They spread it around pretty good,” David said. “He was the one who had the big runs that night.”
The Bulldogs gained 252 yards and another 95 yards passing.
“They run the option where they try to lull you to sleep with the running game and then hit the big throws over the top,” David said.
Ascension Episcopal (5-6) finished with 110 yards rushing and 169 yards through the air in the loss.
“It is going to come down to how well we execute and how well we hang onto the ball,” the Blue Jay coach commented. “The teams left are pretty well balanced talent-wise and it will be the mistakes that make the difference.”
ACS (7-4, 3-2) grabbed wins over Catholic of Pointe Coupee (40-7), Dunham (44-24), Christian Life (50-23) and False River Academy (55-7) before dropping a 22-7 loss to Episcopal of Baton Rouge.
The Bulldogs opened District 8-1A with wins over St. John (34-13) and Ascension Christian (55-0) before losses to district champion West St. John (54-33) and White Castle (14-12).
Ascension Catholic closed the regular season with a 53-6 victory over winless East Iberville.
“It is always exciting to open the playoffs at home,” David said.