Trojans, Demons face-off in homecoming tilt

The Sacred Heart Trojans will take on the Mamou Demons Friday night in a very important inter-parish contest. Both teams are 1-2 on the season and both teams need a win for a most significant reason: power points. On top of that, it is Sacred Heart’s homecoming. Put those two factors together and this game takes on a whole different meaning. Game time is set for 7 p.m. at Soileau-Landry field.
“Homecoming can bring some distractions,” stated Sacred Heart Head Coach Gary Adkins. “Don’t get me wrong, we want the kids to enjoy homecoming, especially the seniors. But, we have to be aware that we do have a game to play. We are going to go about the business of getting ready for a very important contest. A win gives us some much needed power points. Our focus this week at practice will be the Mamou Green Demons and how important this game is.”
Focus was something very evident in Sacred Heart’s 35-12 victory over Gueydan. The Trojans dominated in every aspect of the game. Offensively, Sacred Heart dialed up a total of 334 yards. Defensively, the Trojan defense held the Bears in check, limiting Gueydan to 235 yards.
“I thought we played very well on the defensive side of the ball,” said Adkins. “Gueydan was a well coached team. We had two huge goal line stands against them. That was a big reason why we were able to win the game. Our offense moved the football and did a good job, especially in the passing game. It was nice to get a win and it gives our players some confidence.”
The Trojans ran the ball effectively, as they gained 201 yards on the ground off of 31 carries. The passing game showed that it was still a viable part of the offense. Sacred Heart collected 133 yards through the air, completing two passes on five attempts.
The Mamou Green Demons saw their vaunted passing game shut down by Pine Prairie. However, Mamou was able to move the ball on the ground against the Panthers, rushing for 118 yards on 40 attempts. The Demon defense a total of 241 yards, 167 of those on the ground.
“Pine Prairie did a good job against our passing game,” said Mamou Head Coach Brian Brumfield. “We were able to move the ball on the ground, something we hadn’t done in the other games. We made too many key mistakes. At times we tried to take chances that were not there. As a team, we have to be more patient at times. Our defense played really well for three quarters. It seemed liked when Pine Prairie scored, they gained all of the momentum and we just could not get it on our side.”
The head coaches for both squads have mutual respect for each other. “Mamou is an improved football team,” commented Adkins. “They are big up front and are well coached. Their running back really scares me, he can go. They run the spread offense well and their quarterback does a good job leading. Defensively, they can get after you. We are going to have to play focused football to win.”
“Coach Adkins and his staff do a really good job of getting their guys ready to play,” Brumfield stated. “They execute well on offense. We are going to have to be very sound on defense. They run the option extremely well.
“Assignment football will be the key for us on defense. Defensively, they tackle well. They are especially big on the offensive and defensive line. The key for us is to try to control the tempo of the game. We will have an extra hill to climb because it is their homecoming.”
How well Sacred Heart and Mamou handle the atmosphere that homecoming brings will be a factor in the game, especially for the Trojans. Which team will be able to control the tempo of the game is a big key. Sacred Heart is a double wing, run-oriented offense. Mamou is a spread you out, five wide passing team. Each team eyes a victory to even their record and gain some much needed power points. The outcome could go a long way in securing a playoff spot.