Tom Dodge
With the song “We are the Chmpions” blaring over the loudspeakers, the Blue Jays celebrated back-to-back District 4-1A championships as St. Edmund cruised to a 42-0 win over Merryville Thursday night.
“I am proud of the way our guys played all year,” St. Edmund head coach Andy Hargroder said after the win. “We were able to move the ball on offense and play stromg defense and the seniors helped lead the way to their second straight district title.”
The No. 10 Blue Jays will know who they play in the first round of the Division IV playoffs after the LHSAA releases the brackets today.
“I feel we have momentum heading in the second season,” the Blue Jay coach said after St, Edmund recorded its sixth shut out of the year.
It was the first back-to-back district chanpionships for the Jays since 2003-2004.
After both teams were forced to punt on its opening possessions, the Blue Jays scored first when Peyton Marcantel blocked the Panther punt and recovered the loose ball in the end zone.
Marcantel then added the PAT as the Jays led 7-0 with 4:40 left in the first period.
After another Merryville punt, the Blue Jays moved 48 yards in four plays, aided by a 27-yard run by Brad Miller.
Marcantel capped the drive as he ran a reverse 10 yards to the end zone.
Marcantel’s kick pushed the Jays ahead, 14-0 with 56 seconds left in the opeing period.
St. Edmund then caught the Panthers off-guard with an onsides kick that Kasem Hebert recovered near midfield.
The Jays moved 46 yards in nine plays, sealed by an 18-yard scoring run by Jack Miller.
The PAT failed, but the Jays led 20-0 with 8:51 remaining in the second quarter.
The Panthers were forced to punt again and St. Edmund quickly took advantage of good field position.
After a 20-yard pass from Brad Miller to Kaden Fontenot moved the ball into Merryville terrritory, the Jays went back to the ground game with runs by Carter Lejeune, Brad Miller and Brock Bieger.
Marcantel then scored on a 16-yard run to cap the 59-yard, six play drive.
The two-point conversion pass attempt failed as the Jays held a 26-0 advantage with 5:22 left in the half.
After another Panther punt, it took the Jays just one play to score as Brad Miller raced 69 yards for the touchdown.
Marcantel’s kick increased St. Ed’s margin to 33-0 with 4:05 remaining in the second period.
The Blue Jay defense continued to control the game and forced another Panther punt with 1:46 left before the break.
A strong run by Marcantel and 4-yarder by Peter Miller moved the ball inside the Merryville 10.
Marcantel then drilled a 23-yard field goal as time expired to give the Jays a 36-0 lead at the half.
St. Edmund took the second half kickoff and moved 63 yards in seven plays, finished by a 43-yard scoring scamper by Lejuene.
Marcantel’s PAT gave the Jays a 42-0 advantage with 7:09 left in the third period.
After the Panthers’ seventh punt of the game, the Jays moved 65 yards in seven plays sealed by a 6-yard scoring run by Luke Trahan.
Josh Landry’s kick increased St. Ed’s lead to 49-0 with four seconds left in the third frame.
Merryville was forced to punt again early in the fourth quarter.
The Blue Jays moved the ball but were stopped on fourth down with 8:11 left as the game was played with running time in the second half.
After seven consecutive three plays-and-out, Merryville had it best drive of the night to close the game.
The Panthers moved from the MHS 19 to the Jays 14 before time expired and St. Edmund preserved its sixth shut out of the season.
The Blue Jays finished with 423 yards of total offense, led by Brad Miller’s nine carries for 147 yards to push him to 1,209 yards on the season.