Ville Platte trying to improve on playoff ranking this Friday

While the District 5-3A title is out of reach for Ville Platte, the 5-4 Bulldogs still have a lot on the line when they travel to Church Point to take on the 6-3 Bears. Game time is set for 7 p.m.
With a win over Church Point, Ville Platte can improve on their number 26 power ranking before the Class 3A playoff brackets are announced this Sunday. A loss would more than likely drop the Bulldogs farther down in the rankings.
Ville Platte has definitely had an up and down season. The Bulldogs have not won more than two games in a row, but have not lost more than two games in a row. In fact Ville Platte has alternated wins in all four district games played to this point.
One thing that has kept Ville Platte in the win column this season has been the play of their defense. The Bulldogs only give up an average of 12.9 points per game. That defense has just the right mixture of veterans and young players that have bought into the simplicity of the scheme that allows them to play fast and aggressive.
Ville Platte will need that defense against Church Point. Even though the Bears have lost the last two weeks in a row, they still come into the game averaging 32.3 points per game. This offensive production will be a challenge for the vaunted Bulldog defense.
Leading the way defensively for the Bulldogs is Tralan Thomas. The junior linebacker has recorded 96 tackles on the season. Senior defensive lineman Offensively Ville Platte relies on a ground game that has come into its own this year. The Bulldogs have averaged 166 yards per game via the run.
The workhorse for Ville Platte this year has been Daylon Jones, the senior running back. Jones has 931 yards on 202 carries and five touchdowns.
Adding to that running attack is the versatile Terez Alfred. The senior quarterback has also shown his mobility with the ball, running for 227 yards and six touchdowns this year.
That run game may be on display this week against Church Point. The Bears have not slowed down too many teams this season, giving up an average of 32.5 points per game. In fact, the Church Point defensive unit has relented 30 points or more in five games, including 50 points or more twice in 2015.
“Church Point is a team that we match up well against,” said Ville Platte High head coach Jorie Randle. “They play a run-heavy offense, and pass when they have to. That plays to the strength of our defense. We’re a run-stop team. In the games we’ve lost, it was the passing attack that hurt us. So, against Church Point, it’ll be our strength against theirs.”