Jays face Hurricanes in must win game

LEBEAU – The Blue Jays need to win this week to stay in the top 15 of the LHSAA Division IV power rankings.
St. Edmund (2-6, 1-2) travels to North Central to take on the winless Hurricanes (0-8, 0-3).
The Jays are looking to rebound after a 10-0 loss to Westminster Christian Academy.
“We really need to win these next two games,” St. Edmund head coach Andy Hargroder said.
“I don’t think we have played our best game yet but if we can put it all together we would be a force to reckon with in the
playoffs.
“If we get together and play as a team I believe we can make some kind of noise in the next few weeks.
The two teams have struggled this year to score points with the Blue Jays beging outscored 160-63 and the Hurricanes trailing 381 to 88 points.
“The game before (Catholic High of Pointe Coupee) I think our backs did well but our linemen didn’t as well as they should have,” Hargroder said. “This past week, our linemen played well but our backs didn’t.
In the 49-8 loss to Catholic High of Pointe Coupee last week, the Hurricanes allowed 503 yards and 21 first-quarter points and a 35-8 halftime lead.
Wilshawn Williams carried 17 times for 128 yards for North Central.
The Hurricanes have lost to South Cameron (40-14), Centerville (34-0), Morgan City (44-16), Ville Platte (45-0) and Albany (62-8) in non-district play.
In District 5-1A competition, North Central as lost to Basile (49-14), False River Academy (58-28) and Catholic-PC.
North Central’s last win was Sept. 26, 2014 when the Hurricanes outscored Gueydan 20-18.
“We are probably in the best position a 2-6 team could ever be in,” Hargroder said. “We are not where we want to be, but we are right where we need to be to move on.
“But we need everyone to step up to help us win the last two district games.”