MAMOU – With only a 7-0 lead at the break, St. Edmund broke the game open in the second half as the Blue Jays shut out Mamou, 27-0.
After both teams punted on its first drives, the Jays appeared to score when Brad Miller connected with Carter Lejeune for a 21-yard play but a holding penalty erased the points.
After both teams exchanged punts again, the Jays fumbled the ball back to the Green Demons at midfield,
St. Edmund forced a three-and-out as the game was scoreless at the end of the first period.
The Jays moved deep into Mamou territory on a long punt return by Miller.
The St. Edmund quartback gained the final two yards, but a holding penalty nullified the points.
After Lejeune was stopped inches short on third down, Miller crossed the goal line.
Payton Marcantel’s kick gave the Jays a 7-0 lead with 6:35 left in the second period.
The defenses controlled the rest of the half as both teams were forced to punt.
After starting at the Demons 34 late in the period, a Jays’ scoring opportunity was halted by a fumble and Jakobe Goodley recovered for the Demons.
After forcing Mamou to punt on the opening possession of the second half, the Blue Jays then went 87 yards in 11 plays aided by strong runs by Miller, Lejeune and Luke Trahan.
On first-and-10 at the Mamou 13, Miller ran 12 yards but was stopped short of the goal line.
On the next play, Miller scored as the Jays led 13-0 with 6:09 left in the period.
Mamou responded with an 11-play drive but the Demons were stopped on fourth down at the Blue Jay 26.
It took two plays for the St. Edmund offense to score, aided by a 73-yard run by Miller.
Luke Trahan scored from two-yards out and Marcantel’s kick pushed the Jays ahead 20-0 with 1:27 left in the third period.
An unsportsmanlike pentalty against the Jays allowed Mamou to start near midfield, but the Demons were forced punt again.
The St. Edmund offense fumbled and Landin Soileau recovered the ball for the Green Demons.
Mamou moved the ball to the Blue Jay 23 before an incomplete pass on fourth down halted the drive.
After St. Edmund was forced to punt, Ian Dupre snared an interception and raced 56 yards before he was caught at the Mamou 2.
William Driggs scored two plays later and Josh Landry’s kick gave the Jays a 27-0 margin with 4:35 left in the game.
The Blue Jays recovered a fumble on the kickoff, but the Mamou defense held as Leandre Harrison recored a quaterback sack on fourth down.
Ardoin gained a first down on consectutive runs, but Mamou’s last chance to avoid a shutout for the third straight game ended with four straight incomplete passes.
Miller led the Jays with 210 yards on 22 carries and two touchdowns.
The two teams combined for 237 yards in penalties and five turnovers.
“We had too many pentalties and too manay msicues, “St. Edmund head coach Andy Hargroder said. “We have a lot of the to correct.
“But our defense made plays and our offense worn them down and that was the difference in the game.”
St. Edmund (2-1) opens District 4-1A play at Basile Friday night.
Mamou (0-3) opens District 5-3A competition at Port Barre.