Blue Jays open district with win

NEW ROADS – St. Edmund exploded for 42-0 haltime lead as the Blue Jays cruised to a 50-0 win over False River Academy in the District 5-1A opener.
“There were a lot of positives in the win,” St. Edmund head coach Thomas David said. “Hopefully the tough non-district schedule will pay off as we battle through district.
“I think we have a shot every week if we continue to stay focused and execute.”
After a short Gator punt, it took just two plays for the Jays to score on a 15-yard run by Gibson LaFleur.
The two-point conversion failed but St. Edmund led 6-0 with 8:15 left in the first period.
On the Gators’ second possession the snap went over punter Bailey Aymond’s head and the Blue Jays took over at the FRA 28.
LaFleur broke loose on the next play and scampered 28 yards to push the Jays ahead 12-0 with 7:03 remaining in the opening period.
After another short Gator punt, the Blue Jays took over at the False River 35.
Drake Brunet connected with Noah Clause on fourth down to keep the drive alive and LaFleur followed with a 3-yard score to extend the Blue Jays’ lead to 18-0 at the 3:12 mark.
False River threatened on their next possession as the Gators moved deep into Blue Jay territory before Cullen Brown snared an interception in the end zone.
The Blue Jays moved 80 yards in six plays, aided by three receptions by LaFleur and capped off with a 21-yard touchdown run by Brunet.
Brown hauled in the two-point conversion pass from Brunet as the Jays led 26-0 with 9:54 left before intermission.
The Gators fumbled the kickoff and Noah Clause recovered the ball at midfield.
It took just one play as Brunet hit Clause who streaked 50 yards untouched to the end zone.
LaFleur caught Brunet’s two-point conversion pass to push St. Edmund ahead, 34-0 with 9:38 remaining in the second period.
The Gators advanced to the St. Ed 38 on their next drive, but the Blue Jay defense held on fourth down.
St. Edmund converted on fourth-and-10 when LaFLeur hit LaFleur for a 25 yard play to the FRA 10.
Two plays later, Brunet scored from the 1-yard line and connected with Cullen Brown for the two-point conversion to give the Jays a 42-0 cushion with 3:23 left in the half.
The Gators advanced into Blue Jay territory late in the half, but Cole Bergeron’s interception halted the drive in the closing seconds of the quarter.
Playing with a running clock in the second half, each team had just one posession in the third period.
The Gators opened the half with a eight-play drive, but FRA was stopped on fourth down at the Blue Jay 33.
A 20-yard scramble from Brunet and a fourth-and-four pass to Brown kept the Blue Jay drive alive as the game moved to the final period.
On fourth-and-goal, Brunet went the final yard to open the fourth quarter.
Clause caught the two-point conversion as the Blue Jays led 50-0 with 11:44 remaining in the contest.
After the Gators failed to convert on fourth down, the Jays took over at midfield and drained the clock on a 10-play drive to advance to the False River 24 before the drive stalled. with 1:15 left.
St. Edmund outgained False River 358 to 54 yards of total offense.
Brunet completed 13-of-18 passes for 189 yards with no interceptions.
LaFleur had seven catches for 98 yards, while Clause had three receptions for 75 yards.
Brunet had 75 yard rushing, while LaFleur added 69 yards.
St. Edmund travels to Catholic High of Pointe Coupee Thursday night.