Blue Jays to face No. 8 Tigers

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For the second week in a row, the Blue Jays face a ranked team as St. Edmund travels to No. 8 Oberlin in a key District 4-1A battle.
Last week, St. Edmund (5-1, 3-0) stunned No. 8 Elton, 27-21 in overtime to move into the district tie with the Tigers (5-1, 3-0).
“It was a big win for us,” St. Edmund head coach Andy Hargroder said. “I was pleased to see that our guys kept fighting.
“We got out to a good lead (21-7 at halftime) and let that dwindle but we didn’t give up – they are learning how to win.”
Hargroder compared that to the 29-21 loss to Sacred Heart of Ville Platte earlier this season when the Trojans scored with 2:07 left to win the game.
“With the game tied, we had to stop them to go to overtime,” the coach said. “In the beginning of the year we didn’t stop them. This time we did.”
After the Blue Jay defense stopped Elton for four plays in overtime, St. Ed senior Noah Clause scored the game winner on a five yard scamper.
Luke Doucet had 118 yards on 19 carries and a score to move past 880 yards on the season.
Oberlin opened the season with wins over Mamou (28-12) and Delcambre (44-6) before a 34-26 loss to Oakdale.
The Tigers have earned district victories over Merryville (22-20), Grand Lake (18-12) and Hamilton Christian (42-12).
The Jays will be the toughest foe so far this season for Oberlin as the Tigers’ opponents have a combined 5-24 overall record.
Oberlin had 324 yards rushing on 53 carries and did not attempt a pass in the win over Hamilton Christian.
Tiger quarterback James Kirklin II broke a 6-all tie with a pair of second-quarter touchdown runs to give the Tigers a 22-6 halftime margin.
The Tigers scored on three third-quarter drives to stretch the lead to 42-6.
Kirklin finished with 14 carries for 109 yards and three touchdowns, and Collin Chatman added 118 yards on 22 carries and two touchdowns.
Izzy Drehimphis chipped in 92 yards on seven carries, and Devin Wilson had the other Oberlin touchdown, on a 6-yard run.
Drehimphis had an interception and a fumble recovery, and Mackenzie Carrier added another fumble recovery for a defense that held Hamilton to 64 rushing yards.
“They have three good runners including their quarterback,” Hargroder said. “They are very well-coached, well-disciplined team.”
The battle for a district title is what the Blue Jays have prepared for since summer drills.
“They are excited and they are having fun which is the most important thing,” the coach said.
“The biggest part has been whenever some one is asked to step up – they step up on offense and defense.”