Jays open at Hanson on Saturday

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As the remnants of Hurricane Harvey linger, the season-opening game between St. Edmund and Hanson Memorial has been moved from Friday night to 4 p.m. Saturday in Franklin.
Game coverage will be available at eunicetoday.com.
“We are excited to get to play the game even if it is on Saturday,” St. Edmund head coach Andy Hargroder said.
“I am glad they didn’t cancel because we need the kids play a complete game and improve from the jamboree.”
Last week, the Blue Jays lost 28-6 to Sacred Heart of Ville Platte in the Joe Nagata Memorial jamboree, while Opelousas Catholic cruised to a 41-0 romp over Hanson in the Opelousas Kiwanis jamboree.
Hanson first-year head coach Chris Sanders replaced former St. Edmund assistant coach Dale Creamer after the Tigers struggled to a 3-7 finish in 2016.
Creamer is now the athletic director at St. John’s of Plaquemine.
Hanson’s last seven-win year was in 2011 and the last time they went on a run in the playoffs was 2004 when the Tigers advanced to the Class A quarterfinals before losing to Kentwood 28-7.
Since 2011, The Tigers went 22-28 with back-to-back 6-4 seasons in 2013 and 2014.
The Blue Jays went 4-7 in Hargroder’s first season at St. Edmund, but they earned a spot in the Division IV playoffs.
Against OC in the jamboree, Hanson allowed the opening kickoff to be returned for a touchdown and it went downhill from there.
Viking quarterback Zach Mengarelli threw three touchdown passes and OC finished with 207 yards rushing as Evan Moody gained 136 yards on 6 carries including a 91-yard touchdown run.
Hanson’s offense struggled as the Tigers were held to minus yardage throwing (-6) and rushing (-2).
“They tried to run at OC, they tried to run around OC and they couldn’t do anything,” Hargroder said.
“That’s probably not because they aren’t good – it’s because OC is really good.”
For St. Edmund, the Jays took advantage of a Noah Clause interception to set up its only scoring drive against Sacred Heart, capped when Brad Miller scrambled 12 yards for the touchdown.
“We used the jamboree as another scrimmage,” the Blue Jay coach said. “We are still getting used to the offense.
“Against Hanson, this will be Brad Miller’s first full game at quarterback and we will open the playbook up.
“On defense in the jamboree, we had too many breakdowns and we want to see how the defense reacts against Hanson.”