Blue Jays grab key district win
By Tom Dodge
OPELOUSAS – Things didn’t look good early on for the Blue Jays as Opelousas Catholic jumped out to a 14-7 lead.
But St. Edmund rallied for 16 unanswered points to grab a crucial 23-14 win Thursday night at Donald Gardner Stadium.
With the win, the Blue Jays improved to 5-4 overall and 3-3 in District 6-1A and kept their playoff hopes alive.
The Vikings fell to 6-3 overall and 3-3 in district.
“This was huge win,” St. Edmund head coach Thomas David said. “We played a tough group of kids who played hard and expected to win.
“We battled and I was pleased with our effort,” David said. “We are playing our best football right now.”
Opelousas Catholic’s Lane Williams picked off a Perry Pitre pass and returned it to the Blue Jay 20 to set up the first Viking touchdown.
Evan Wagley scored on a five-yard run and Matt Howard’s PAT gave the Vikings a 7-0 lead with 7:36 left.
The Blue Jays responded with an impressive, 11 play, 80 yard drive.
Pitre connected with Chase Dupre for a 14-yard touchdown and Biscuit Arnaud’s kick tied the game with 3:55 left in the first period.
The Vikings were forced to punt on their next possession, but OC recovered a fumble at the St. Edmund 24.
Three plays later, Aaron Meche hauled in an 18-touchdown yard pass from Wagley.
Howard’s kick gave the Vikings a 14-7 lead with two seconds left in the period.
“We were our own worst ememy when we set them up twice on short fields,” David said. “We found a way a battle back and our kids showed their character.”
The Blue Jay comeback began when the St. Edmund defense nearly sacked OC quarterback Wagley in the end zone.
Wagley was flagged for intentional grounding and the Blue Jays were awarded a safety to close the margin to 14-9 with 4:450 left in the first half.
After the free kick, the Blue Jays moved 40 yards in six plays.
Austin LaFleur crossed the goal line from two yards out and Arnaud’s PAT gave the Jays a 16-14 lead with 2:51 left before intermission.
OC was forced to punt on the opening possession of the second half, but a fumble on the return gave the Vikings the ball back at the Blue Jay 31.
In what David described as the pivotal series of the game, the St. Edmund defense held on fourth down and got the ball back at the 26.
“It was a turning point in the game after we fumbled on the punt and then the defense stuffed them,” he said. “That was huge and swung the tide in the ball game.”
The Blue Jay offense then sealed the win with a seven play drive, capped off with a 45-yard run by Pitre.
Arnaud’s PAT gave St. Edmund a 23-14 lead with 5:26 left in the third period.
OC moved the ball deep into Blue Jay territory before Gibson LaFLeur intercepted Wagley’s pass at the St. Edmund 20.
After several punts by both teams, the St. Edmund defense got the ball back when Wagley fumbled during a quarterback sack and Austin LaFleur recovered near midfield with 4:04 left in the game.
St. Edmund was stopped just inches short on fourth down at the OC 25 and the Vikings got one last scoring opportunity with 1:29 remaining.
After three incomplete passes, Wagley kept the drive alive with a first down toss to Brett Mills.
Landen Lyons tipped the next pass attempt and Arnaud then sacked Wagley for a five-yard loss.
Drew Brown slammed the door on the Vikings when he intercepted Wagley at the 45 yard line with 22 seconds left in the game.
Pitre led the Blue Jay offense with 134 yards on 25 carries and completed 6-of-9 passes for 44 yards.
The St. Edmund defense held OC to 107 yards of total offense and three scoreless quarters,
St. Edmund faces rival Sacred Heart of Ville Platte for homecoming on Friday.
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