Bulldogs, Bearcats square off in offensive showdown

It may not be the Fourth of July, but we may just see some offensive fireworks Friday night in Basile as the Bearcats host the Ville Platte Bulldogs in what will be one of the most exciting games of the season. Both Basile and Ville Platte are 1-0 coming into the contest. Ville Platte dominated in a 38-9 victory over Westminster in week one. Basile had to pull away from Sacred Heart in the second half to come out on top of the Trojans 35-7 for their first win of the season.
Both teams were very impressive on the offensive side of the ball in their regular season openers. Ville Platte accumulated a total of 548 yards on offense against the Crusaders. Leading the way for the Bulldogs was Terese Thomas, who carried the ball 15 times for 235 yards and two touchdowns. The Bearcats totaled 338 yards on offense, most of that coming on the ground from their two running backs. Kendrick Ceasar and Gabriel Fontenot combined for 335 rushing yards against the Trojans.
The attributing factor in the offensive output for each team, according to both head coaches, was the play of the offensive lines. “Our offensive line did a tremendous job against Westminster,” said Ville Platte Head Coach Jorie Randle. “We are able to put different guys in the backfield at running back and not miss a beat. The reason for this is our offensive line play has been on point so far this season.” Basile Head Coach Kevin Bertrand was just as pleased with the effort of his offensive line against Sacred Heart. “I really thought our offensive line played with a lot of heart,” stated Bertrand. “We had to block guys up front that were way bigger than us. It just shows that proper technique is important in how an offensive lineman is able to block.”
Of course, having talented running backs is always a big advantage when it comes to offensive output. “It is nice to have two guys who can complement each other in the run game,” said Bertrand. “If teams want to focus their attention on Kendrick, we know that Gabe is able to carry the load for us. It keeps teams honest.” Ville Platte also has several players that can be interchanged at the running back spot. “All of the guys we put back there are capable runners,” stated Randle. “It doesn’t matter if it is Terese Thomas, Tyler Fontenot, Shabby Moore or Daylon Jones. They all understand what we are trying to accomplish in the running game. It helps to have more than one player that can run the football.”
One aspect of the game Friday that may be overlooked is the defensive unit for each team. Ville Platte stymied the Crusader offense, only allowing 102 yards of total offense. Meanwhile, the Basile defense was also impressive against the Trojans, giving up a meager 226 total yards, while stopping the Trojans on four separate occasions on fourth down. “Our defense did an outstanding job for us on Friday,” exclaimed Randle. “We played very disciplined against the veer attack of Westminster. We moved some personnel, which allowed us to be more versatile. We were able to play some younger guys on defense so that they can get real game experience which will help us later in the season.” Bertrand also acknowledged the Bearcat defensive play against Sacred Heart. “We played well on defense against Sacred Heart,” declared Bertrand. “I was really proud of those guys for stopping Sacred Heart when it counted. Except for the big pass play, I thought we played pretty sound defense. “One area of concern for the two teams will be the number of penalties collected during each game. Ville Platte was tagged with 11 penalties for 179 yards. Basile totaled seven penalties for 79 yards, most of those being holding calls. “We talked to the kids about the penalties, especially the holding calls,” commented Bertrand. “I think it was just guys trying to do too much in the downfield blocking. They will need to learn that if a running back has passed them they need to just let the play develop.” Randle also understands how too many mistakes can cost you a game. “After the game, one of the things we said to the players was that we cannot have all of the penalties called against us and still be successful,” stated Randle. “Good teams minimize the mistakes and take advantage of the opponents’ mistakes.”
Bertrand knows that if the Bearcats are to be successful against Ville Platte Friday night they will have to play a complete game. “We are going to have to be ready for a good team,” said Bertrand. “They are bigger and faster than we are. We need to be very disciplined and sound both on offense and defense. We will need to play smart and hard all four quarters. Basically, we will need to play assignment football, especially against the type of offense they run.”
The Ville Platte coaching staff knows they will be facing a Bearcat team that does not quit. “Basile is a team that plays with a lot of heart,” said Randle. “They have some talented players and are well coached. We will have to play assignment football, especially against Ceasar. It looks like you have him bottled up and he will reverse field on you and take it to the house. Execution, especially on offense, is going to be a key to the game. We will need to control the tempo of the game.”
It will be very interesting to see if the defenses of both squads will be able to control the dynamic offenses each team brings to the field. The game could turn into a battle of wills as both clubs approach the offense in different manners. Ville Platte wants to play quick and up-tempo. Basile likes to grind it out and slow down the pace. Mistakes and special teams will definitely play a role in the outcome between these two good football teams. Whoever has the edge in those two parts of the game will have a huge advantage. It could come down to who has the ball last to determine the winner of the game. No matter what happens, you can bet this game will be thrilling to watch.