BELLE CHASSE – The No. 10 Bobcats advanced to the quarterfinals for the second time in three years as Eunice rolled to a 35-0 win over No. 26 Belle Chasse.
Eunice (6-2) will play host to No 2 Edna Karr 6-1), 70-19 winners over No. 15 Istrouma.
“I thought it was complete team performance for us,” Eunice head coach Andre Vige said. “We won in all three phases.”
The Bobcats have out scored their opponents 71-0 in the 2020 playoffs.
Eunice held the Cardinals on the game’s opening drive to force a Belle Chasse punt.
With a drive that began at the EHS 32, strong runs by Deon Ardoin combined with an offside penalty on the Cardinals helped the Bobcats move near midfield.
After a 4-yard gain by Jeoul Hill, Belle Chasse was flagged for a face mask penalty as the Bobcats advanced to the Cardinal 24.
Hill followed for an impressive touchdown run to cap the 68-yard drive.
Braden Rider’s PAT gave the Bobcats a 7-0 lead midway through the first quarter.
“Early on we set the tone when we got the three-and-out by the defense and the offense took the ball and we get seven points,”Vige said.
Both teams then exchanged punts, Belle Chasse took over near midfield and moved the ball inside the Bobcats 30.
On fourth-and-1, Belle Chasse’s Twillie Lovett gained three yards to keep the drive alive.
Later on fourth-and-12 at the Eunice 24, quarterback Stone Meyers connected with Alfred Carter but Bobcat defender Jaheim Mitchell made the tackle at the EHS 16 to stop the drive.
Deon Ardoin, Hill and Simeon Ardoin had good runs and Zach Suire hauled in a 7-yard pass as the Bobcats advanced to the Belle Chasse 45.
The Cardinal defense held and forced the Bobcats to punt.
Darbonne’s 48-yard punt pinned Belle Chasse back to the Cardinal 6.
Runs by Saverio Relle and Lovett helped the Cardinals advance to BC 34 late in the second period.
An intentional grounding call halted the Cardinal drive and forced a punt attempt.
Dylan Darbonne blocked the kick and Dedric Vigers scooped up the ball at the Belle Chasse 5 and ran into the end zone.
Rider’s PAT pushed the Bobcats up 14-0 with 40 seconds left in the first half.
Belle Chasse’s next possession began at the Cardinal 35 and Lovett ran four times to get the ball to midfield.
Meyer’s pass was intercepted by Ty’shun Joseph near the Bobcat 20 and EHS took a 14-0 lead into the intermission.
Eunice went three-and-out on the opening possession of the second half.
Belle Chasse started an impressive drive from their own 21 as runs from Relle and Lovett helped the Cardinals move to near midfield.
A fourth down gain by Carter kept the BC drive alive.
The Cardinals ground game continued as Lovett and Relle combined to advance Belle Chasse to inside the EHS 20 as the third quarter ended.
But again the Bobcat defense made a strong stand when Dedric Vigers stopped Lovett on fourth down to halt the drive.
“We went three-and-out to start the third quarter and they went on a 19-play drive,” Vige said. “If they had scored, it would have been a one-touchdown game.
“Our defense all night had a bend but don’t break mind-set,” the coach said. “A couple of times they got close, but our defense made some stops.”
A scoreless third quarter turned into 21 points for Eunice to seal the road win.
After the defensive stop at their own 21, the Bobcat running attack continued to excel with strong runs by Hill and Landen Higginbotham.
After another strong Deon Ardoin run moved the Bobcats to the Belle Chasse 4, Higginbotham exploded through the Cardinal defense for the touchdown.
Rider’s PAT moved Eunice ahead, 21-0 with 9:00 left in the contest.
The total team effort by the Bobcats continued to be on display as Jacoby Collins snared an interception and returned it 29 yards. On the very next play, Simeon Ardoin connected with Hayden Darbonne for a 26-yard touchdown strike.
Ryder’s PAT increased the Bobcats’ advantage to 28-0 with less than 8:00 remaining in the game.
Belle Chasse threatened as the Cardinals moved deep into Bobcat territory, but EHS defense held again to force a fourth down incomplete pass to halt the drive with 4:45 left in the game.
Eunice sealed the win with a 66-yard drive, sparked by a long run by Higginbotham and aided by a late hit flag and unsportsmanlike penalty that advanced the ball to the Belle Chasse 11.
Deon Ardoin gained seven yards on the next play and then capped the drive with a four-yard touchdown run.
Rider’s fifth PAT gave the Bobcats a 35-0 lead as the game neared the final minutes.
Eunice finished with 265 yards of total offense, including 232 yards on the ground.
Hill had 70 yards on seven carries, while Deon Ardoin added 69 yards on 12 rushes.
Higginbotham contributed 61 yards on four carries and Simeon Ardoin chipped in 32 yards on five runs.
He also completed 2-of-4 passes for 33 yards.
Belle Chasse had 199 yards rushing, led by Lovett’s 85 yards on 25 carries.
Relle had 61 yards on 15 carries, while Carter finished with 45 yards on 11 rushes.