Tom Dodge
BASILE – They won’t be district rivals for at least the next two seasons, so the Blue Jays and Bearcats met each other Monday for a spring scrimmage.
St. Edmund’s opening drive went 70 yards in just six plays, sparked by an 11-yard run from Blake Summerlin and capped by a 47-yard scamper down the left sideline by William Driggs.
The Blue Jays displayed a flashy passing attack on its next possession as Wesley Lafleur found Sam Prudhomme open for a 70-yard touchdown strike to push St. Edmund ahead 12-0.
The Blue Jays moved near midfield on their next drive as quarterback Clay Miller led the attack, highlighted by a 19 yard run by Ian Dupre.
St. Ed’s second team offense took over and Cason Hollier and Henry Brown opened with strong runs.
Wesley Driggs connected with Issac Richard for a 30-yarder and later William Driggs gained 14 more yards to move the Jays to the Basile 11.
Brown gained 10 yards and then capped the drive with a 1-yard plunge to push the Jays ahead 18-0.
Basile’s first team offense started strong, sparked by a Cole Manuel pass to Izzy Drehemsis and capped by a 53-yard touchdown run by Isaiah Ceaser. The PAT closed the gap to 18-7.
On their second possession, the Bearcats moved the ball with several impressive passes by Manuel to Drehemsis and Kevon Ivory.
Manuel connected with Logan Guillory for a 30-yarder and then Ceaser finished the drive with a 20-yard touchdown run as Basile closed the margin to 18-13.
The Bearcats’ second offense closed the first halfm but Blue Jay defender Easton Coleman snared an interception to halt the Basile drive.
The Bearcats returned the favor early in the second half when Tyler Martel intercepted a pass to stop the Blue Jay drive.
St. Edmund recovered with an impressive drive by the second team offense, sparked by 20-yard run and 10-yard reception from William Driggs.
Issac Richard moved the ball to the Basile 15 with a 16-yard run, followed by a 15-yard touchdown scamper by quarterback Wesley Driggs as St. Ed’s pushed ahead 24-13.
Ceaser had several impressive runs late in the contest, but the St. Edmund defense shut out Basile in the final two series to seal the Blue Jay victory.
St. Edmund will open the regular season at Calss 2-A Vinton on Sept. 6, while Basile will travel to Class 2-A Lake Arthur.