Blue Jays win district title

By Tom Dodge
tom.dodge@eunicetoday.com

VILLE PLATTE – The St. Edmund Blue Jays captured the District 5-1A title with a 28-12 win over rival Sacred Heart of Ville Platte.
“It was good to see the seniors win their fourth straight over Sacred Heart,” St. Edmund head coach Thomas David said. It was the Blue Jays’ first district title since the 9-0 regular season finish in 2008.
The LHSAA will release the playoff brackets today.
The Blue Jay defense held on fourth down on the Trojans opening possession but St. Edmund was forced to punt the ball back to SHVP.
The Trojans went 79 yards in six plays, aided by two St. Ed penalties.
Joshua LaHaye found Mikey Laughlin open for a 21-yard touchdown.
The extra point kick failed but the Trojan led 6-0 with 2:33 left in the first period.
Both defenses held on fourth down attempts, including a batted down pass in the end zone by Blue Jay Aaron Sittig.
Crucial catches by Drake Brunet and Cole Bergeron along with a personal foul against the Trojans held the Jays move the ball to the SHVP 35.
A 16-yard run by William Chachere and a short run by Brown set up a six-yard scoring run by Zach LaFleur.
The two-point conversion pass attempt failed as the Jays tied the game 6-6 with 7:57 left in the second period.
Sacred Heart responded with a seven-play, 61 yard drive capped with a 13-yard touchdown by Dylan Scully.
The extra point run failed as Trojans led 12-6 with 5:21 remaining in the half.
After both teams punted, the Blue Jays moved 66 yards in 12 plays in a quick 2:33 off the clock.
Zach LaFleur opened the series with three strong runs and Drew Brown connected with Cullen Brown for two critical passes on the drive.
Brown ran the ball the final 17 yards including a 1-yard touchdown run.
Brown connected with William Chachere for the two-point conversion as the Jays led 14-12 with seven seconds left in the half.
“That drive was real big in swinging momentum and giving us a chance to be ahead at the half,” David said. “Sacred Heart played real hard and executed real well in the first half.”
The Blue Jays opened the second half with a 12-play drive but St. Edmund was stopped on fourth down at the Sacred Heart 33.
On the next play, St. Edmund’s Ross LaFleur recovered a fumble to give the Blue Jays another chance at the Trojan 37.
Brown connected with Brunet for 19 yards to move the ball to the Sacred Heart 2.
Brown then found Zach LaFleur open for the score. The two-point conversion pass failed, but the Jays led 20-12 with 5:23 left in the third period.
After three consecutive punts, including two short Trojan kicks, the Blue Jays took over at the Sacred Heart 29 early in the fourth quarter.
In a play that tricked the Trojan defense, St. Edmud quarterback appeared to be limping to the sideline, but as ball was snapped Brown was wide open for a pass from Brunet and a the result was a 29-yard touchdown.
Brown found Cole Bergeron open at the goal line for the two-point conversion to push the Blue Jays ahead, 28-12 with 11:09 left in the game.
“It is legal because all 11 guys were inside the numbers when the ball was blown ready for play,” David said. “It worked out for us.”
After failing to convert on fourth down on their next possession, the Blue Jays’ Brown intercepted LaHaye and raced to midfield.
A St. Edmund fumble gave the ball back to the Trojans, but a quarterback sack by Austin Sittig and an interception by Zach LaFleur in the closing minutes allowed the Blue Jays to run out the clock.