Vikings down Blue Jays

OPELOUSAS – For a while, it appeared the game would be a showdown in O-Town.
In front of a state-wide TV audience, St. Edmund held a 26-20 lead early in the third period over Opelousas Catholic at Donald Gardner Stadium.
But the Vikings (4-0) scored on four straight possessions to seal a 46-32 win on Thursday night.
“We made mistakes that cost us the game.” St. Edmund head coach Thomas David said. “We can’t make those mistakes and expect to survive.”
Trailing 20-18, the Blue Jays (1-3) recovered the second-half kickoff at the OC 36.
Drew Brown connected with Cullen Brown for a 13-yard score to finish the six-play drive.
Drew Brown found Zach LaFleur open in the end zone for the two-point conversion to give the Jays a 26-20 lead with 10:09 left in the third period.
OC was forced to punt on their first possession of the second half, but a muffed catch gave the Vikings the ball back at the Blue Jay 22.
Seven plays later, OC quarterback David Labbe scored on a 2-yard run and Aaron Whipp’s PAT gave the Vikings a 27-26 advantage with 5:32 left in the third period.
On the first play of the next Blue Jay drive, OC recovered a fumbled lateral at the St. Edmund 4.
Two plays later, Labbe connected with Caleb Vidrine for a 3-yard touchdown. Whipp’s PAT pushed OC ahead 34-26 with 4:33 left in the period.
A quarterback sack of Drew Brown on fourth down and an intercepetion by Kaleb Gautreaux ended the next two Blue Jay drives.
The Vikings then mounted a seven-play, 40-yard yard drive, aided by runs from Labbe, Aaron Miller and sealed by a 1-yard plunge by Vidrine as OC took a 40-26 advantage with 9:37 left in the game.
After another Blue Jay punt, the Vikings sealed the game with a quick three-play, 53-yard possession completed with a 21-yard scoring strike from Labbe to Brett Mills. The PAT failed, but the Vikings held a comfortable 46-26 lead with 7:28 remaining.
The Blue Jays fought back with a 14-play, 70-yard drive, as Drew Brown completed passes to Alex Hunt and Cullen Brown before Gibson LaFleur hauled in an 11-yard pass to convert a fourth down to keep the drive alive.
Drew Brown connected with Drake Brunet for a 6-yard score. The two-point conversion failed, but the Jays closed the gap to 46-32 with 4:32 left in the game.
The Vikings then converted a fourth-down play near midfield to run out the clock and end the game.
The offensive exhibit began early as St. Edmund took the opening kickoff and went 71 yards in 12 plays to take a 6-0 lead.
Drew Brown connected with Alex Hunt for a 31-yard scoring pass with 8:30 left in the first period,
Opelousas Catholic quickly moved into Blue Jay territory on an impressive kick return by Caleb Vidrine as the Vikings began its drive at the Blue Jay 20.
Four plays later, Labbe found Jacobi Richard open for a 26-yard touchdown.
Whipp’s PAT gave the Vikings a 7-6 lead with 6:30 remaining in the opening period.
An interception stopped the next Blue Jay drive, but the St. Edmund defense forced three plays and an OC punt.
The Blue Jays moved the ball 85 yards in just eight plays as Brown coompleted four passes to move the ball down the field.
Brown connected with Drake Brunet for an 8-yard scoring strike with 1:30 left in the first quarter.
The two-point conversion attempt failed, but the Blue Jays led 12-7 as the game moved to the second period.
OC took the ball 45 yards in eight plays to retake the lead as the Vikings moved the ball on the ground, capped by a 5-yard run by Aaron Miller. The PAT failed but the Vikings held a 13-12 advantage with 9:53 left in the first half.
The Blue Jays responded with a 12-play, 72 yard drive, aided by an impressive reception by Cullen Brown to keep the drive alive at the OC 25.
Seven plays later, Drew Brown connected with Zach LaFleur for a 3-yard touchdown. The two-point conversion failed, but the Blue Jays led 18-13 with 6:27 left in the second period,
After the two teams exchanged short punts, the offensive display returned as the Vikings moved 25 yards in seven plays to retake the lead.
On fourth down and three yards to go deep in Blue Jay territory, Labbe ran the ball up the middle six yards for the touchdown.
Whipp’s PAT with 1:05 remaining helped the Vikings take a 20-18 lead.
The Vikings recovered the onsides kick, but a Whipp missed 24-yard field goal with nine seconds left to keep the margin at two points at intermission.
Drew Brown completed 25-of-47 passes for 319 yards with two interceptions. He also had 15 carries for 46 yards.
Brunet hauled in 10 catches for 108 yards, while Cullen Brown had five catches for 81 yards.
Labbe completed 7-of-15 for 120 yards with Vidrine grabbing three catches to 53 yards.
Labbe also rushed for 65 yards on 16 carries and Vidrine added 63 yards on 13 carries.
St. Edmund travels to Westminster on Friday, while OC visits Catholic of Pointe Coupee.
“We need to stay focused and get better,” David said. “We need to be playing our best football at the end of the season.”