Bearcats sting Hornets in district 4-1A contest

The Basile Bearcats kept their hopes of being one of the top six ranked teams in the LHSAA power rating system alive by destroying the Grand Lake Hornets on Thursday. The Bearcats scored from the opening kickoff and never looked back in defeating the Hornets 56-14. Even with the absence of leading rusher Kendrick Ceasar, who was nursing a toe injury, Basile was still able to control the game on the ground, picking up 381 yards rushing on 33 carries; an amazing 11.5 yards per carry.
“With Kendrick out, it was pretty much running back by committee,” said Basile Head Coach Kevin Bertrand. “We know what Gabe brings to the table, but we needed other guys to step up and give him a blow every once in a while. I was proud of the way the other backs played. The offensive line really did a great job again this week opening holes for the backs.”
From the very first play of the game, the Bearcats showed they had not only come to play, but to dominate. Gabe Fontenot took the opening kickoff and raced 90 yards for the touchdown. Mark Ledoux booted the extra point through the uprights and Basile took the early 7-0 lead in the first quarter.
With Ceasar out, Basile now relied heavily on Fontenot. A two-yard touchdown plunge by Fontenot extended the Bearcat lead later in the quarter. Once again, Ledoux was on target with the extra point and the Basile lead was now 14-0.
Fontenot would add more points to the Bearcat side of the scoreboard when he would carry the ball from 22 yards out into the end zone. The extra point was good by Ledoux and Basile now led 21-0.
Grand Lake would try to get back into the game late into the first quarter. David Miller and Tyler Lavergne would hook up on a 30-yard touchdown pass. The extra point kick failed and the initial period ended with Basile leading 21-6.
The second quarter would see a lull in the scoring, as both teams tried to continue the momentum from the first quarter. Basile would be the only team to score in the quarter as Roger Spell would dive in from three yards out to extend the Bearcat lead. Ledoux would tack on the extra point and Basile would lead 28-6 going into half time.
The Bearcats would come out of half time with one mission; put the game away and take the momentum from the Hornets. Basile took that mission to heart as they were able to hold Grand Lake to one score and add 14 points to their total in the quarter.
At first it did not look like the Bearcats had stalled the Hornet spirit, as Grand Lake was able to score first in the third quarter. A 12-yard pass from Lavergne to Tyler Guillory and a two-point pass conversion cut the Bearcat lead to 21-14.
But any fears that Basile did not have the game in hand were soon put to rest. The Bearcats scored on two touchdown runs from Fontenot; the first was a 68-yard gallop and the second was a 15-yard sprint. Ledoux tacked on both extra points, and at the end of the third quarter the score was 42-14.
“We came out of the locker room not as fired up as I would have liked,” stated Bertrand. “I think when you have a big lead going into halftime, sometimes you don’t play as excited to start the second half. They took the ball on about a six minute drive to open up the third quarter. I think that woke us up and told us that there was still some football left to play.”
Just for good measure, the Bearcats added two more touchdowns. One would be of the defensive variety, in the final stanza to extend its lead. Kyle Francois would scoop up a loose football and motor his way into the end zone from 39 yards out. Tray David would add to the point total by scoring on a 37-yard run. Ledoux would connect on both extra points and the Bearcats would end the game with a 56-14 win.
Leading the offensive charge for Basile was Fontenot. He collected 173 yards on 14 carries and scored five touchdowns. Adding to the rushing total was Jared Belle, who ran for 78 yards on 10 carries. Mark Ivory was able to connect on two of his three pass attempts. Leading receiver for Basile was Fontenot who had one reception for eight yards.
With the win, the Bearcats increase their chances of being in the top six schools in 1A in the power rankings. Being in the top six means that Basile would have a bye in the first round of the playoffs and a home game in the second round of the playoffs. Basile was ranked number 10 going into the Grand Lake game.
The Bearcats (6-1, 3-1) will next travel to take on the East Beauregard Trojans. East Beauregard is 6-1 on the year and 3-1 in district, having defeated South Cameron on Friday. The only loss of the season for the Trojans came against the same Hamilton Christian team that gave Basile its only loss of the season. East Beauregard was ninth in the power rankings as of press time. This will be a tremendous matchup and will carry playoff implications for both teams. Quoting Keith Jackson, long time sports announcer, “It is going to be a dandy.”