Sacred Heat falls to 2A powerhouse Catholic 69-14

NEW IBERIA -- The loss of a number of players due to injury continues to wreak havoc on the Sacred Heart Trojans.
Sacred Heart traveled to New Iberia Friday to take on annual playoff contender Catholic of New Iberia.
Catholic was able to take advantage of the depleted Trojan ranks in a 69-12 win in District 5-2A action.
With the loss, Sacred Heart now falls to 2-7 on the year and 1-6 in district play.
The Trojans will finish out the season this coming Friday, as they host Delcambre for homecoming.
“We started the year with 46 players on the team,” said Sacred Heart head coach Josh Harper. “Right now, because of injuries, we are down to 31 players dressed. Out of those 31 players, a total of 15 play on offense, defense and special teams. Its tough to compete with those numbers.”
Harper also knows that building a program will take patients on the part of the players, the coaches and the fans.
“It’s a process,” stated Harper. “We have to build on the good and the bad. We as coaches and also the players have to realize that what we are doing is not an instant fix.”
One aspect Harper is pleased with is the never give up attitude of his players.
“We are still fighting,” commented Harper. “Our players are giving their best effort every game. Caleb Soileau is a great example. He has played the best I have seen him play all year in these last two games. Our guys have not given in.”
Against Catholic, the gap between the number of players and the experience between the two squads showed early.
Catholic came out of the gate like a single minded thoroughbred. The Panthers put up 34 points in the first quarter to quickly set the tone.
The Panther’s first score of the evening took only two plays; a 46-yard run from and a three-yard touchdown plunge by Seth Pierre. The extra point was good and Catholic lead 7-0.
Catholic then scored on a 30-yard pass from quarterback Dylan Leblanc. With the PAT, the Panthers now lead 14-0.
Another long pass from Leblanc, this time from 53-yards out, added to the Panther lead. Again the extra point was good, giving Catholic the 21-0 lead.
The Panthers continued to tack on points, as they scored on runs of thirteen and three yards. One of the extra points were not good and Catholic held a 34-0 lead.
Continuing to dominate in the second quarter, the Panthers added three more touchdowns in the second quarter.
Pierre scored the first touchdown of the second quarter on a three-yard run. With the extra point, Catholic now held a 41-0 lead over Sacred Heart.
A 10-yard pass from Leblanc, his third for the night, added to the Catholic lead. Once again the extra point was true and the Panthers extended their lead to 48-0.
Pierre’s night was not done. The senior fullback plunged over from five-yards out to tack on another score for the Panthers.
The extra point was blasted through the uprights to give Catholic a 55-0 lead going into the locker room.
The Panthers were able to add to their lead in the third and fourth quarters respectively.
In the third quarter, a six-yard run gave Catholic another touchdown. Adding the extra point made the score 62-0.
The Panther’s final score of the evening came in the final quarter.
After taking over on their 49-yard line, Catholic reached pay dirt in three plays. A 17-yard run and a true extra point made the score 69-0.
Sacred Heart did manage to put up points in the fourth quarter.
The Trojan’s first touchdown came after a 58-yard, 13 play drive.
The drive was capped off by a 13-yard run from senior running back Caleb Soileau.
Alec Gotro’s try after failed to sail through the uprights, however, the Trojans now had six points on the board.
Sacred Heart’s final score of the night came via the air. Trojan quarterback Sam Tuminaro hit tight end Seth Shipp on a 17-yard pass to add to the Trojan total.
Gotro could not hit the extra point making the final score 69-12.
Harper was impressed by the passing game late in the contest.
“Our run game was decent,” said Haprer. “What impressed me was the way we threw the ball. Seth had a career night with about five or six catches. Having the ability to throw the ball helps us against Delcambe.”