Tom Dodge
The Bobcat faithful will fill their side of the Superdome in New Orleans Friday night when Eunice faces Sterlington for the Class 3-A championship.
This is the fourth trip for the Bobcats and Eunice (12-2) is designated as the the home team against the Panthers (12-2).
Moving from Opelousas Catholic, Johnny Bourque became the Bobcat head football coach in 1979 and compiled a 104-76 record and four district titles ending his coaching career in 1994 to become Eunice High prinicipal.
In 1981, Eunice won its first district championship in 17 years.
Then in 1982, the Bobcats defeated Jennings 16-13 for the Class 3-A state championship – the only football title in program history.
Chris Carrier was named the game’s MVP as he had six solo tackles, one assist, a pass deflection, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.
On offense, he caught a 19-yard touchdown pass from his brother Kevin Carrier and also completed a 20-yard pass to Arthur Richey.
Jason Victoria scored the game’s first points, but Jennings later grabbed a 7-6 advantage.
The Carrier to Carrier connection with six seconds left in the half and a two-point conversion lifted the Bobcat to a 14-7 lead.
Jennings later responded with a third quarter score but missed the extra point as the Bulldogs closed the gap to 14-13 with 2:37 left in the third quarter.
The Eunice defense sealed the win when Clarence Dupre and Randy Bellard combined for a safety with 28 seconds left in the game.
After two seasons in Abbeville as defensive corridinator, Paul Trosclair joined the Bobcats in 1984.
Trosclair’s first season with the Bobcats was as the defensive corridinator and then he spent five years as the EHS offensive corridinator,
He became the head coach at Oakdale in 1990.
After going 39-19 and earning four district titles in five seasons with the Warriors, Trosclair returned to Eunice in 1995 and brought the Bobcats to state championship games in 1997 and 1998.
In the 1997 semi-finals trailing 24-7 late in the third quarter, Eunice’s Donnie Bollich nailed a 28-yard field goal to lift the Bobcats to a 25-24 win over Hammond to advance to the 1997 title game.
Bollich also gained 131 yards on 19 carries and completed 4-of-8 passes for 30 yards all to Kyries Hebert who scored on a six-yard toss.
In the title game against John Curtis, Hebert would have an interception late in the first half to keep the Bobcats close, trailing 7-0.
Bollich scored late in the game on a seven-yard run to close the margin to 21-6.
Harry Frank was the Defensive MVP as he recorded eight solo tackles and two assists to lead the Bobcat defense.
Brennan Bertrand also had a stellar night with 10 tackles, including two for losses.
The Bobcats finished the 1997 season with a 14-1, the best in school history.
In 1998, Eunice rolled to a 21-0 win over Bastrop in the semifinals to earn a rematch with John Curtis in the title game.
Spencer Aucoin finished with 103 yards on 20 carries including a four-yard touchdown in the win over Bastrop.
Charles Anderson had two interceptions for the Bobcats.
Eunice then had to face John Curtis again for the Class 4-A state chanpionship,
The Bobcats grabbed an early 7-0 lead when Robbie Landreneau blocked a punt and Charles Anderson scored on a 30-yard return, Upendra Savoy added the extra point.
The Patriots would score three times to take the 20-6 win.
Eunice finished the season 11-4 the first back-to-back 10 win seasons in program history.