Tom Dodge
After facing Iota in the jamboree, Eunice now takes on another former district foe today as the Bobcats travel to Northwest.
Eunice scored with nine seconds remaining to earn a 14-7 win over Iota in the Joe Nagata Memorial jamboree held at Bobcat Stadium.
“I didn’t think we could drive 98 yards in four minutes,” Eunice head coach Paul Trosclair said of the game winning drive. “We never went into the hurry up offense, we just ran our offense.”
Traelyn Copper scored on a 15-yard reception in the first half against Iota and later made a crucial catch in the game winning drive before Simeon Ardoin connected with Jeoul Hill for the 3-yard game winning touchdown.
“It showed great mental toughness,” the coach said. “Hopefully we can continue that and improve upon it.”
The Raiders are led by senior quarterback Montaze Sam along with wide receivers Devin Davis, Lawrence Pitre, Keshaun Lazard, Lane Bias and DaPriest Hogan.
“Montaze Sam is quite a player,” Trosclair said. “It looks like he is throwing better than he did last year plus he is a really good runner.
“He is a dual threat guy which is quite the challenge.
“We don’t want give up big plays,” the coach said. “You want them to earn what they get.
“Our defensive secondary is young and inexperienced, which is a concern.”
Northwest scored twice at the end of the first half against Beau Chene as the Raiders earned a 22-3 win over the Gators in the St. Landry Parish jamboree held at Donald Gardner Stadium in Opelousas.
Lazard caught a Sam pass tipped by a Beau Chene raced 64 yards for the touchdown with 17 seconds remained.
Following the two-point conversion, the Raiders scored quickly again as they recovered a fumbled kickoff.
Devin Davis scored on Sam’s throw with no time remaining and a two-point conversion gave the Raiders the 16-0 lead.
Northwest scored the game’s final touchdown with an opening second half offensive drive that devoured nearly half the period and ended when Curtis Dean ran in from three yards out.
Sam, a senior who led the parish in total offense last year, completed three of eight passes for 135 yards.
Beau Chene’s Jake Doucet scored the Gators’ points with just over a minute left in the game on a 32-yard attempt.
The Bobcats will have to contend with Benjamin Eubuomwan, a 345-pound defensive lineman.
“If he is over our center we will help with some blocking schemes,” Trosclair said.
Eunice won 37-14 last season en route to the 2018 Class 3-A state championship.
The last time Northwest won was in 2016 as the Raiders battled to a 14-7 victory.