Blue Jays travel to take on Bulldogs

By: John Burson
Sports Writer
GONZALES — The St. Edmund Blue Jays will open the Division IV select playoffs against the Ascension Catholic Bulldogs here Friday night.
Coach Andy Hargroder’s Blue Jay football team enter the playoffs coming off a double overtime victory over the Basile High Bearcats on the road.
The Jays hope to carry that momentum forward against the Bulldogs.
“It took some time for our kids to buy into the type of hardnosed football we introduced,” said Hargroder. “It was a big adjustment they had to make.”
“We also never had a chance to build confidence due to the toughness of our schedule.”
Ascension Catholic posted a season record of 6-4, while the Blue Jays finished with a 4-6 mark.
The Bulldogs opened the season with a 54-20 victory over Catholic of Pointe Coupee before falling to Dunham 41-14 in week two.
The Blue Jays fell 42 to 6 to Northwest in their opener, but downed Iota 7-0 in week two.
The Bulldogs split their next two games, defeating Central Catholic 28-21 before getting blown out 50-0 by Southern Lab.
The Jays lost 35-0 to Opelousas Catholic and dropped a 6-0 loss to Port Barre.
In week five, the Bulldogs clipped White Castle 16-14, while the Blue Jays fell 25-6 to Beau Chene. Both teams earned wins in week six. The Bulldogs beat Ascension Christian 62-16 and the Jays beat False River 31-28.
Ascension won their next two games,beating East Iberville 33-6 and blowing out St. John 51-0.
The Jays suffered a tough 14-13 loss to Catholic of Pointe Coupee, then dropped a 10-0 decision to Westminster.
In the final two weeks, Ascension fell 12-0 to Kentwood and 3--6 to Kaplan. St. Edmund won its final two games with a 41-12 win over North Central and a 29-28 win over Basile to post a district mark of 3-2.
Hargroder hopes the monentum of that win carries over. The game is scheduled for a 7pm start.
Ascension depends on top rusher Jamar Barber and senior quarterback Javon Yarbrough to lead the offense. Senior Jacoby Stewart excells as a wide receiver and return specialist.
On defense, junior Bubba Gautreau averages 8.5 tackles a game from his middle linebacker spot. Stewart starts at free safety on defense. Freshman Jai Williams goes both ways at running back and outside linebacker. Senior Kebori Hunter is a two-way player as a wide receiver on offense and a cornerback on defense.
The Blue Jays have developed a solid running attack this season, with freshman Luke Doucet leading the way. Doucet rushed 26 times for 110 yards with two touchdowns in their win over Basile.
Senior quarterback Peter Miller has contributed to the ground attack as well. He rushed for 46 yards on 15 carries against Basile. Brock Bieber, Jack Miller, and Brad Miller have been solid contributors to the Blue Jay offense as well over the course of the season.
Seniors J. P. Wardand John Hull are two-way players at wide receiver and defensive back. Seniors Mike Zaunbrecher, Alex Stelly, Jacque Richard, Noah Russell, and Ben Vidrine have seen action along the offensive and defensive lines.
Senior Jack Brown, who handles the kicking duties for the Jays, also contributes as an offensive lineman and at linebacker.