High scoring Lions meet stingy BHS defense

In most cases, the high scoring offense does not stand much of a chance against a good defense. Especially if that defense is playing at home and has had two weeks off. That is exactly what Basile Head Coach Tony Bertrand is hoping will be the case when the Lions of Plain Dealing come to Basile Friday night.
Plain Dealing, the 13th seed in Class 1A, destroyed Ringgold 52-14. The high scoring Lions are averaging 30 points a game this year and that does worry Bertrand somewhat.
“They like to spread you out,” Bertrand said. “They have a really good quarterback and two talented receivers.”
Plain Dealing (6-5/3-2) started off the year 0-3 with losses to larger teams, including Class 4A Benton. In district, they lost to Cedar Creek and Haynesville. In both of those losses, one thing stands out to Bertrand.
“They don’t seem to be too solid on defense,” he highlighted. “They give up a lot of points.”
Bertrand was alluding to the fact that Plain Dealing surrenders nearly 36 points per game on the defensive side of the football. They have allowed over 50 points twice this year in district play.
The thing that will help Basile the most is their attitude. The boys love football and they are chomping at the bit to get back on the field. The bye allowed the fourth seeded Basile to get healthy and to make the kids miss the gridiron.
Basile will also get to play in front of their home crowd for the first time in three weeks. That will surely be a sight for sore eyes. Kendrick Ceasar, Evangeline Parish’s leading rusher, is determined to come out and have a breakout game. Complementing Ceasar will be the passing attack that has grown more and more each week. Quarterback Mark Ivory has really come along as a quality signal caller. He spreads the love around, getting several receivers involved. Look for him to deploy a very good passing attack and help set up big runs for Basile.
The Bearcats could put this one away early if they come out strong and force the Lions to become one dimensional. Basile’s defense gives up less than 10 pionts a game and most teams struggle to pass at all.
Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. in Basile.