Tom Dodge
The Bobcats clinched the 2020 District 4-4A title as Eunice cruised to a 55-14 win over North Vermilion.
The Bobcats close out the regular season at home Friday against the Notre Dame Pioneers.
Notre Dame earned a 62-13 over Lake Arthur as the Pioneers improved to 6-1 on the season.
“We went ahead 28-0 in the first quarter to bury North Vermilion early,” Eunice head coach Andre Vige said. “We had two quick turnovers to push ahead 42-7 at the half.
“It was a game where our offense was executing at a high level and our defense was playing lights out.”
Eunice took the opening kickoff and moved 72 yards in six plays for the game’s first points.
Deon Ardoin, Landen Higginbotham and Jeoul Hill all had strong runs to help the Bobcats move the ball to the North Vermilion 15.
Simeon Ardoin then scored on a 15-yard run to push the Bobcats ahead 6-0 with 9:42 left in the quarter.
The Eunice defense then made an impressive play when Dedric Vigers picked a Patriot fumble and returned it 57 yards for the scoop and score.
Simeon Ardoin ran in the two-point conversion to push Eunice up 14-0 with 9:03 remaining in the quarter.
The Bobcat defense forced another turnover when Zach Suire snared an interception at midfield.
Hill broke loose for a 40 yard run and Deon Ardoin followed with a seven-yard and then a 3-yard touchdown run.
Braden Rider kicked the PAT to extend the Bobcats’ lead to 21-0 with 7:18 left in the period.
After forcing a North Vermilion punt, the Bobcats were penalized for roughing the kicker.
But the Eunice defense stood tall and forced another punt and began another long scoring drive.
Runs by Hill, Simeon Ardoin and Suire helped move the ball from the EHS 16 to inside the North Vermilion 20.
Deon Ardoin closed the drive with an 11-yard score.
Rider’s PAT gave the Bobcats a 28-0 lead with 1:44 remaining in the first quarter.
North Vermilion made a first down on their next possession before the Bobcats forced another punt as the first quarter ended.
Eunice went 63 yards in six plays begun with runs by Suire and Deon Ardoin.
Hayden Darbonne then hauled in a pass and rumbled to the North Vermilion 10.
Hill gained five yards and Higginbotham finished the drive with a 5-yard touchdown.
Rider’s kick increased the Bobcats’ margin to 35-0 with 8:57 left in the second period.
North Vermilion mounted a 68-yard drive as quarterback Dale Martin completed passes to Ethan Guidry and Landen Duffell to move to the EHS 7.
But on fourth-and-goal from the Bobcat 2, Simeon Ardoin sacked Martin to halt the Patriots’ drive.
Eunice was forced to punt and after a short kick, North Vermilion took over at the Bobcat 20 late in the second period.
On the first play of their drive, Martin connected with Rontrell Broussard for the touchdown.
Martin’s PAT closed the gap to 35-7 with 2:09 remaining before intermission.
The Bobcat offense responded with a 57-yard drive, aided by a great catch by Jaheim Mitchell and a strong run by Hill.
Deon Ardoin then broke loose for an apparent 29-yard score, but it was called back by a holding penalty.
Simeon Ardoin later found Deon Ardoin open for a 31-yard touchdown.
The PAT was good as the Bobcats led 42-7 with 15 seconds left in the half.
Eunice forced North Vermilion to punt to open the third quarter and the Bobcat offense moved 41 yards in just six plays.
Hill made several strong runs including a 24-yarder to the Patriots’ 1.
Hill than capped the drive with a short touchdown plunge and Rider’s kick gave the Bobcats a 49-7 lead with 8:21 left in the period.
The Eunice defense continued to dominate and forced another North Vermilion punt.
The Bobcats began their drive at the EHS 15, but runs by Deon Ardoin, Jesten Galloway and Higginbotham helped move the ball to midfield.
Deon Ardoin and Hill added good runs before Higginbotham broke loose for a 17-yard scamper.
Deon Ardoin capped the drive with a three yard touchdown run.
The two-point conversion failed, bit the Bobcats led 55-7 with 29 seconds remaining in the third frame.
North Vermilion responded with a scoring drive of its own early in the fourth period, capped by a 16-yard run by Benny Freeman.
Martin’s PAT closed the gap to 55-14 with 11:00 left in the contest.
The Eunice offense ran time off the clock, including two fourth down conversion on passes by Christian Andrepont.
“We controlled the game,” Vige said. “We came ready to play and it showed.”
After two-game layoff the Bobcats were dominate, finishing with 350 yards rushing and nearly 500 yards of total offense.
“It had been 21 days since we had played a game,” Vige said. “I wasn’t sure how we would do, but we performed well in every aspect of the game.”