Avoyelles slips past Blue Jays

MOREAUVILLE – The Blue Jays battled to a 14-14 tie at the half, but Avoyelles rallied for a 36-29 win over St. Edmund in the season opener.
The Blue Jays started near midfield on their opening possession, but the St. Edmund offense was stopped on fourth down at the Mustang 30.
Avoyelles went 70 yards in 10 plays, capped by a 15-yard run by Carlos Bazert.
Bazert ran in the two-point conversion to give the Mustangs an 8-0 lead with 5:28 left in the first quarter.
After getting great field position on the ensuing kickoff, the Blue Jays went 34 yards in just six plays for their first score of the season.
Clay Miller connected for a nine-yard scoring pass to Kieran Davis.
Henry Brown’s PAT closed the gap to 8-7 with 10:53 remaining in the second period.
It took the Mustangs just two plays to move 63 yards on their next drive, capped off with an eight-yard run by Bazert.
The PAT failed, but Avoyelles had a 14-7 lead with 9:40 left in the half.
The Blue Jays responded with a quick 54-yard drive that took just three plays.
Miller ran the ball in from three yards out and Brown’s kick tied the game 14-14 with 8:26 remaining in the quarter.
The Blue Jay defense recovered a fumble to stop the Mustangs at the SEH 39.
St. Ed’s was forced to punt, but after the Mustangs moved 56 yards in 10 plays, the Blue Jay defense held at their own 1-yard line.
With the game tied, the Mustangs took the second half kickoff and went 71 yards in nine plays capped with a 44-yard scoring run by Jermaine Pierre.
Eric Walters scored the two-point conversion to push the Mustangs up 22-14 with 5:47 left in the third period.
The Blue Jays started their first drive of the second half at midfield and moved 15 yards before a fumble stopped the series at the Mustang 35.
Avoyelles began to pull away with a five play, 65-yard drive, completed with a five-yard touchdown run by Bazert.
Bazert also ran in the two point conversion to extend the Mustangs’ lead to 30-14 with 2:52 left in the quarter.
St. Edmund answered with a 51-yard drive that took only three plays completed with a five-yard touchdown run by Davis.
Brown’s PAT closed the margin to 30-21 with 1:58 remaining in the third period.
The Blue Jay defense stopped the Mustangs on fourth down near midfield, but St. Ed’s was forced to punt.
Avoyelles then used 7:01 off the clock, moving 66 yards in 12 plays.
Bazert scored from 17-yards out. The two-point conversion failled, but the Mustangs led 36-21 with 2:55 left in the contest.
St. Edmund would not go away quietly as the Jays went 54 yards in five plays as the clocked ticked down.
Davis scored on a 16-yard pass from Miller with two seconds left.
Miller then ran in the two-point conversion to close the gap to 36-29.
The Jays recovered the onside kick but time expired in the play as the Mustangs held for the seven-point win.
Avoyelles finished with 421 yards of total offense on 61 rushing plays.
Bazert led the Mustangs with 195 yards on 29 carries.
Pierre added 121 yards on 14 carries.
Miller completed 4-of-9 passes for 80 yards for the Jays.
He also led St. Ed’s with 57 yards on 11 carries.
Davis had 44 yards on three catches and gained 36 yards on eight carries.
Henry Brown went 1-for-1 passing with a 48- yard toss to Gus Brown.
St. Edmund is scheduled to travel to Highland Baptist on Thursday.