Bearcats cruise to win

BASILE – The Basile High Bearcats advanced to the Class A quarterfinal round here Friday night with a 42-8 victory over the Louisiana New Tech - Plain Dealing Lions.
Kendrick Ceaser scored four touchdowns and Gabriel Fontenot added two more as the Bearcats overcame a slow start to earn the right to face Kentwood in the quarterfinal round.
After losing a fumble on their initial possession of the game, Coach Tony Bertrand’s Bearcats embarked on a 78-yard, 13-play drive to take a 6-0 lead at the 2:00 mark of the first quarter.
The Lions responded with a 70-yard, 8-play drive to the game at 6-6 on an 18-yard scoring pass from Logan Allen to Isaac Jacobs.
Allen was on the receiving end of a Kylon Stromile pass on the two-point conversion for an 8-6 lead with 10:15 left in the second quarter.
The Lions appeared to gain momentum on the next series when they intercepted a Mark Ivory pass at the Lions’ 31.
But the Bearcats’ Mason Deshotel returned the favor three plays later with his interception of an Allen pass inside the Lions’ 40-yard line.
Basile would capitalize on the turnover, driving 64 yards in nine plays for a touchdown. Ceaser capped the drive with a 4-yard run, then ran for the two-point conversion to put the Bearcats on top by a 14-8 margin with 3:28 left in the half.
The Bearcats quickly increased their lead early in the second half after recovering a fumble at their own 42.
A penalty pushed the Bearcats back to their own 37. On the next play, Ceaser turned in a 63-yard touchdown run. The PAT kick failed, but Basile led 20-8 at the 9:55 mark of the third quarter.
The Bearcat defense held the Lions in check for two possessions, getting the ball back to their offense by stopping Jonah Lirette one yard short of a first down on a fourth-down run.
The Basile offensive unit used the great field position to add to their lead. The five-play, 62-yard drive ended when a Ivory hit Ceaser with a pass and the speedy back sailed down the sideline for a 56-yard touchdown. Ceaser then tossed a pass to Caleb Marcantel to convert the two-point conversion for a 28-8 lead.
The Bearcat defense made another fourth down stop on the first play of the fourth quarter to give their offense the ball at the Lions’ 36-yard line.
Gabriel Fontenot carried three times in the short drive, capping it with a 13-yard touchdown run. Mark Ledoux kicked the PAT for a 35-8 lead with 9:50 remaining.
Basile added a touchdown with 3:24 left on the clock as Fontenot raced 31 yards for a touchdown. Ledoux added the kick for a 42-8 lead.
Ceaser finished with 172 yards rushing on 22 carries to lead Basile. Fontenot added 95 yards on eight rushes.
Tray Harris caught five passes for 50 yards to lead the Lions. Allen completed 17 of 29 passes for 174 yards for Plain Dealing.