Defensive showdown tips towards Port Barre

Ville Platte High Head Coach Tracy Jagneaux knew going into Port Barre was going to be tough. Pile on the fact that it was the opening District 5-3A game for VPHS and the fact that many key Bulldog players were going to be sidelined with injuries and that simply made it more difficult for the VPHS skipper.
Despite the injuries and hostile environment, the Bulldogs really put on a good showing. They gave up just two touchdowns and fell by a score of 14-6.
While there was not much scoring in the game, there was a lot of defense, and the defense was impressive on both sides of the football. Both teams put up stiff stands deep in their own territory.
The defense started early for VPHS. Port Barre took the ball on the opening possession and moved it well. It wasn’t long until they were at midfield. That’s when Dayton Jackson and Tyler Fontenot began to lead the VPHS defensive front. The D-unit stopped Port Barre and forced them to punt the pigskin.
The ensuing punt would be all the scoring the Bulldogs would get in the contest. Jaquain Anderson took the punt and ran for nearly 62 yards and a score. The amazing run captivated both sides of the field and gave the Bulldogs their only lead of the game.
Port Barre drove the ball deep within Bulldog territory on their next possession. It was another tough defensive showing that kept VPHS out of trouble. However, it wouldn’t last long.
Port Barre’s defense continued to battle hard against VPHS. They got the ball back to Port Barre’s offense and this time, J.J. Sylvester and company made the most of their chances. On a fourth down and 12 yards to go, it looked liked the Bulldogs may have gotten the stop they needed. Instead, Port Barre Head Coach Mac Mistric called a pass that would catch the Bulldogs off guard. The Port Barre tight end took off up the seam and was wide open in the end zone for a score. The extra-point kick was good, giving Port Barre a lead they would not relinquish.
Port Barre put together a drive off of a turnover in the second quarter. The short field made it easy pickings for Sylvester, who galloped into the end zone for a score.
In the second half, Ville Platte High’s defense held Port Barre on three straight fourth-down situations. Tough performances from Jackson, Fontenot, James Wilson and Terese Thomas kept VPHS in the game until the very end.
As the game ended in the fourth quarter it was an impressive show of character on the part of Coach Mistrict and Coach Jagneaux. Port Barre was in the position to add another score as the clock expired, yet Mistric directed his team to take a knee.
“We knew we were going to have to rely on our defense not only tonight but all year long,” Jagneaux said. “We had a lot of guys coming back. Those guys (Thomas, Wilson, Jackson, Fontenot) are underclassmen, but they are returners as well. They know where to be.”
With Pine Prairie coming to town next week, the Bulldogs will have to get healed up in a hurry and fix their woes on offense.
“It comes down to execution,” Jagneaux explained. “Our line has to learn how to execute and do what we trust them to do. You can have the best skill players in the world, but if the line doesn’t execute, it won’t matter.”
It’s homecoming next week for VPHS and the Bulldogs are looking forward to a good match-up against Pine Prairie High School. The Panthers are coming off of a 34-6 loss to the Church Point Bears in their District 5-3A opener.