John Burson
PORT BARRE – The early going in the District 4-3A encounter between the Eunice High Bobcats and the Port Barre High Red Devils saw both teams struggling to make plays.
The two teams made a couple of plays, but both teams couldn’t avoid the penalty bug with each getting hit with a 15-yard penalty.
Coach Paul Trosclair’s team finally overcame its slow start with the help of running backs Deon Ardoin and Avery Lee, but the Bobcats would use a dropped punt snap by the Devils to score the first points of the game with less than two minutes left in the first quarter.
Lee recovered the fumble in the Port Barre end zone to give the Bobcats a touchdown. Austin Phillips hit the PAT to give the Bobcats a 7-0 lead.
After the Bobcats forced a fourth down punt to start the second quarter, the Cats drove from their own 36 to the Port Barre 9-yard line with the help of Deon Ardoin’s 40-yard run. Simeon Ardoin added an 8-yard run to set up the Bobcats for a score with 7:18 left before halftime, but a 22-yard field goal try by Phillips was was blocked.
Port Barre wasn’t able to take advantage of the big play as the Bobcats regained possession after a short punt.
Simeon Ardoin teamed with receiver Traelyn Cooper on a 27-yard pass play for a touchdown and. Phillips kicked the PAT to give the Bobcats a 14-0 lead with 3:12 left in the half.
The Cats added two points on a safety to go ahead by a 16-0 margin.
The Devils received the kickoff to open the second half but were unable to get their offense going.
The Cats took advantage with a long drive highlighted by Deon Ardoin’s 47-yard run. Avery Lee scored on a three-yard run with 5:39 left in the third quarter and Phillips made the successful PAT kick to give the Cats a 23-0 lead.
The Red Devils tried to comeback but quarterback Zach Suire, who took over as quarterback in the second half after an injury to Simeon Ardoin, completed a pass to Jordan Ledet.
Port Barre caused a fumble and the Red Devils recovered but were unable to cut into the Eunice lead. The Cats took possession late in the third quarter and increased their lead on a touchdown pass from Suire to Jahiem Mitchell with 7:42 left in the game.
Phillips kicked the PAT to give the Cats a 30-0 lead.