Sacred Heart has no answer in 56-13 loss to unbeaten Catholic

VILLE PLATTE - Undefeated Catholic High (New Iberia) overpowered Sacred Heart, 56-13, Friday evening in the Trojan’s last home game of the season.
The Panthers, ranked in the top five of the Division III power rankings, will match-up with its undefeated rival, number two Notre Dame, next week for the District 5-2A championship and a possible top seed in the playoffs.
While the Trojans were overmatched, they also hurt themselves with seven turnovers, including an interception returned for a touchdown. Each of the turnovers set the Panthers up in great scoring position all evening.
Catholic High ended up scoring four times in the first quarter and twice in the second quarter, taking a 42-0 lead before the Trojans found pay dirt. The Panthers scored on five scoring runs and one defensive touchdown.
Sacred Heart scored just at the close of the first half. Wesley Launey hit Daniel Scully on a 28-yard touchdown pass. The point-after-try failed, and the Trojans went into the locker room on a high note, but still trailing, 42-0.
The third quarter started just where the second quarter ended, with Sacred Heart scoring a touchdown. The Trojans scored on the second play of the second half, an 80-yard Alec Gotro reception. Gotro also nailed the extra point, cutting the large gap to 42-13.
Sacred Heart, feeling a momentum swing, gambled – and converted – on an on-side kick following the touchdown. However, after a promising drive that moved down to the Panther 12-yard line, the Trojans turned the ball over again, killing their momentum.
The rest of the game, played in running time, saw the Panther second-string duke it out with the Trojans. Catholic High powered two more touchdowns in the fourth quarter to finish off the scoring, 56-13.
Despite the loss, Trojan skipper Josh Harper was proud of his team.
“We were outmanned,” Harper acknowledged, “but we showed fight. That’s a top ten team, and we didn’t quit. We could have packed it in, but our players showed grit and heart, fighting to the end. “We have an opportunity to go .500 with a win next week,” he continued, “and we’re going to go down to Delcambre to get it done.”
Sacred Heart travels to Delcambre next Friday, where the Trojans will look to even up their 4-5 record. Sacred Heart is 1-5 in District 5-2A. Delcambre is 1-8 on the year and winless in district play.