Blue Jays travel to No. 6 Southern Lab

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The Blue Jays missed their goals of a district championship and a home game to begin the playoffs.
But head coach James Shiver’s team earned a playoff spot in his first season at St. Edmund as the No. 11 Blue Jays (6-4 overall, 3-2 in District 5-1A) travel to No. 6 Southern Lab (6-3 overall, 3-0 in District 6-1A).
“Looking back on our season it has been unselfish players doing whatever we asked them to do to be successful,” Shiver said. “I am proud of what they accomplished.”
The perennial powerhouse Kittens won back-to-back state championships in 2015 and 2016 after finishing as Division IV runners-up in 2014.
Southern Lab advanced to the semifinals last season, falling to Lafayette Christian Academy.
“They may not be as good as Southern Lab has been in previous years,” Shiver said. “They have only beaten teams with losing records – they haven’t beaten anybody with winning records.
“I think we can play with them and run the ball on them,” Shiver said.
Southern Lab had an up-and-down season this year, opening with a 45-6 win over Class 4-A Belaire (45-6) followed by a 21-14 loss to Class 3-A Madison Prep.
The Kittens rolled to a 49-13 win over Class 5-A McKinley, but then fell to 5-A teams Central (7-6) and Scotlandville (63-18).
Southern Lab regrouped for a four-game win streak including victories over Riverside Academy (47-34), Thrive Academy (63-0), Central Private (34-15) and Slaughter Community Charter (56-6).
“They have speed on top of speed and athletic ability,” Shiver said of the Kittens.
Southern Lab players to watch include linebacker and Arizona commitment Jabar Triplett and wide receiver Reginald Johnson, who is committed to Houston.
The Kittens also depend heavily on offensive linemen Nick Smith, Derrick Wright and Kendrick Coleman to open holes with sophomore quarterback Angelo Izzard directing the offense.
His favorite targets are Johnson and Herman Brister.
Running backs Latrell Pruitt and Daelon Hardy Hardy lead the ground attack.
“The Southern Lab teams in the past ran the ball,” Shiver said. “This year they are throwing the ball almost every play.”
St. Edmund will look to senior Peyton Marcantel (1,268 yards on 174 carries, 11 TDs) and freshman Kieran Davis (546 yards on 108 carries, 8 TDs) to lead the Blue Jay offense.
“I like our chances to win this week,” Shiver said. “Our seniors have opportunity to lead our team to a win at Southern Lab – that would be amazing.
“You never know what can happen in the playoffs.”
With a victory, St. Edmund would face the winner between No. 3 Ascension Catholic and No. 14 Riverside Academy in the quarterfinals.