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Grambling commitment, Isaiah Thomas, will look to get VPHS in the playoffs.

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Jermarcus Jones and the VPHS running game had a tough night against CPHS.

Church Point blanks Bulldogs

By: Nick Jagneaux

 

 

CHURCH POINT – The Church Point Bears opportunistically beat the Ville Platte Bulldogs, 35-0, here Friday night, setting up a district championship showdown with Livonia next week.

Church Point took advantage of Bulldog miscues not once; not twice; but thrice in the first half to take a 21-0 lead into halftime.

The Bears scored on a fumble recovered in the endzone; a 75-yard punt return; and a 97-yard interception return.

Church Point had a three touchdown lead before its offense had made one first down.

“It’s been like that all year,” Bulldog head coach Tracey Jagneaux commented after the game.  “We shoot ourselves in the foot every week.  It’s hard to overcome these kinds of mistakes.”

Despite falling to 3-5 on the season and 1-3 in District 5-3A, Jagneaux said that the “Dogs still have a chance at making the playoffs.  Ville Platte hosts Northwest.

“I believe that we control our destiny,” Jagneaux explained.  “If we can beat Northwest next week, I think there’s a 99% chance we’re in the playoffs.

“That was our goal at the beginning of the season, and it’s still within reach,” he continued.  “With the support of our home crowd on Senior Night, I know that we’ll be ready to play.”

Church Point caught a big break on the “Dogs’ second drive to score its first touchdown.  On first-and-ten on its two-yardline, the Bulldogs fumbled the ball in the endzone.  Jaylan Kelly recovered the ball for the Bears’ score.  Kian Richard made the Point-After-Try, for a quick 7-0 lead.

The second Bear touchdown came at the beginning of the second quarter.  After forcing a Bulldog punt, Brett Richard reeled off a 75-yard punt return, breaking tackles along the way.

Kian Richard’s extra point put Church Point up, 14-0.

On the ensuing drive, Ville Platte’s fifth of the game, the Bulldogs finally started to string together some positive plays, all passes.  Quarterback Isaiah Thomas connected with Jaquine Anderson and Darrien Anderson on four straight completions for 49 yards, moving the Bulldogs down to the 16-yardline.

However, on the fifth play of the drive, safety Frederick Williams read the pass correctly, and took the Pick-Six 97 yards for the score.  With Richard’s PAT, suddenly Church Point was up, 21-0, with eight minutes still to play in the half.

In spite of the huge deficit, the Bulldog defense had been playing well up to that point in the game.  Church Point had not yet picked up a first down, and the Bears only had 11 yards of offense. 

Bears’ head coach John  Craig Arceneaux said, “Tonight, even though our offense wasn’t working in the first half, our strengths carried us through. 

“Our defense and special teams have been playing well all season,” he continued, “and tonight they came through for us again.

“The stats sheet won’t be much too look at, but the most important stat is the one on the scoreboard.”

The special teams got the opportunity to shine again to start the third quarter.  Church Point returned the second half kick-off 65 yards to set up shop on the Bulldog 30-yardline.

From there, the Bear offense finally started making an impact.  Six straight running plays yielded a Christian Veronie touchdown run.  Richard hit the PAT, and Church Point effectively put the game out of reach, 35-0.

Church Point’s defense yet again came up with a big play on the next Bulldog possession, as Williams stole another Thomas pass.

Yet again, the Bear offense took advantage, this time capping a five-play drive with another Veronie score.  Richard’s extra point sealed the win, 35-0.

The Bears improve to 7-2 on the season, and are 4-0 in league play.

Next week Church Point travels to Livonia with the district title on the line.  The second-ranked Wildcats are 9-0 on the season.

One thing is sure for the game next week: one of the two teams will make history.  Neither Church Point nor Livonia has ever won a district title outright.  They’ve both shared the title in the past, but Friday night just one of them will emerge as Champ.

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