Blue Jays shut out Trojans

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VILLE PLATTE – In a game between rivals, a shut out is always special.
St. Edmund scored twice in the first half and the Blue Jay defense did the rest in a 13-0 win Friday at Sacred Heart of Ville Platte.
St. Ed’s gained 237 yards on 51 carries, but it was a pass that provided the game’s first points.
The Blue Jays took the opening drive and went 58 yards on seven plays, including a 33-yard run by Marcantel who was pushed out at the Trojan 8.
On fourth-and-goal, Marcantel found a wide-open Hunter Brown in the end zone for a three-yard touchdown toss.
Josh Landry’s kick lifted the Blue Jays to a 7-0 lead with 8:45 left in the first period.
Sacred Heart could only manage three yards on their first possession as the defenses took over as the rain continued to fall.
After a short punt by the Trojans early in the second period, the Blue Jays took over at the Sacred Heart 39.
It took just three plays for the Blue Jays to get to the end zone, capped by a 31-yard run by Marcantel.
After a fumbled snap, the two-point conversion failed but the Jays led 13-0 with 9:31 remaining in the second period.
Sacred Heart’ then mounted it best drive of the half as the Trojans went 44 yards in eight plays.
But Hunter Brown intercepted Gabe Fontenot’s pass and returned it 21 yards to the Blue Jay 34 with 5:03 remaining in the half.
St. Edmund then went on a time-consuming drive that went 63 yards on 14 plays.
But the clock expired with the Blue Jays inside the Sacred Heart 10 before St. Edmund could attempt another play.
Sacred Heart began the third quarter with a strong effort as the Trojans went 55 yards on 11 plays and threatened to score.
But the St. Ed defense stood tall and stopped the Trojans at the Blue Jay two-yard line with 5:29 left in the third period.
The Jays were forced to punt after gaining just seven yards and the Trojans took over at the St. Ed 35.
Once again the Blue Jays defense responded and stopped Sacred Heart on fourth down at the SEH 29 early in the fourth quarter.
St. Ed’s methodically moved the ball down the wet field taking 17 plays to moved 49 yards.
After erasing 9:346 off the clock, the Jays could not convert on fourth down and Sacred Heart had 2:05 left to attempt to score twice – trailing 13-0.
Instead, the Trojans could move just 12 yards and the Jays again stopped Sacred Heart on fourth down at the SHVP 34.
The Blue Jays then ran out the final 1:08 as the Jays earned a crucial District 5-1A win.
St. Edmund (5-3, 2-1) entertains Westminster Christian Academy (5-3, 1-2) Friday.
The Crusaders lost 45-23 to Catholic High of Pointe Coupee.
Sacred Heart-Ville Platte (4-4, 1-2) travels to Opelousas Catholic.
The Vikings (7-1, 2-1) rolled to a 69-18 win over the North Central Hurricanes.