Basile earns share of title with 10-0 win

BASILE -- In a game that determined a least a share of the District 5-1A title, the Basile Bearcats held off the Catholic of Pointe Coupee Hornets 10-0 to move to 8-1 on the season and a perfect 4-0 in district play.
“We have a share of the title,” commented Basile head coach Kevin Bertrand. “Winning a district championship was one of the goals that we talked about at the beginning of the season. We are one win away from being outright district champs. What is more important is that we got the win.”
Basile will travel to St. Ed’s next week to try and finish out the season as the only team holding the championship trophy.
The Bearcats and Hornets played one of those physical games that come this time of the year between two teams fighting for a title.
“I thought we played really physical tonight,” stated Bertrand. “Our defense gave us one of those bend but don’t break performances tonight. The offensive line once again did an extremely effective job of blocking again. Overall, I was extremely proud of our players.”
The game was just about as evenly matched as they come. Basile collected 249 yards of total offense, while Catholic garnered 233 total yards.
Basile earned 13 first downs while Catholic picked up 12 first downs of their own.
Both squads came into the game with potent running attacks. However, it was the passing game of Catholic that surprised a number of people at the game, including Bertrand.
“They hit us the passing game a little tonight,” said Bertrand. “But our defensive backs did a great job when it counted. I did not expect them to throw the ball as much as they did.”
The difference in the game was the second quarter.
After coming out of the initial period of play scoreless, Basile was able to pick up all of their points in the second quarter.
The Bearcats scored their first points of the game the third phase of the game, special teams.
After driving down to the Hornet 14-yard line, the Bearcats were forced to try a 21-yard field goal.
Placekicker Tray David bolted one through the uprights and Basile had a 3-0 lead.
The Bearcats added to their lead later in the quarter when Gabe Fontenot took a David handoff and rumbled for 50-yards and a touchdown.
David was true on the extra point and Basile had all of the points it needed to secure the win and a share of the district title.
On the night senior running back Gabe Fontenot was his usual workhorse self. Fontenot rushed for 195 yards on 21 carries and one touchdown.
Fontenot also caught both of David’s completed passes for 17 yards.
Jarred Belle added another 27 yards on four carries.
More importantly, the win will hopefully keep the Bearcats as one of the top two seeds in Class 1A come playoff time.
If they can hold on to that position, they may not have to play their old playoff nemesis, the Kentwood Kangaroos until the finals; a fact that is not lost on Bertrand.
“It would be nice not to have to face off against those guys (Kentwood) until after the quarterfinals,” chuckled Bertrand. “We may have to have Thanksgiving dinner with them, we see them in the third round so much.”
Basile and Kentwood have faced each other in the playoffs the last four years in a row, including three straight times in the quarterfinals.