Kentwood, Basile meet again in quarters

Over the last decade, Basile has seen a ton of success. They have made it to the playoffs nearly every year and advanced to the second round or further on multiple occasions. Unfortunately, they continue to have their strong seasons ended by the same team. The Kentwood Kangaroos have been the kryptonite for Basile over the last few years. The Roos have dominated Basile in nearly every meeting. In fact, the closest score was a 39-10 contest in 2004 in the second round of the playoffs. Most recently, it was a 47-14 in the 2012 quarter-finals.
Basile gets to host Kentwood again. The Cats are going to look to their defense to get the Roos off the field each time they have the ball. Basile’s defense continues to hold teams to less than 10 points per game. Now, their biggest test of the year is upon them.
“There is no doubt we have the best defensive group we have had since I have been here,” said Basile Head Coach Tony Bertrand. “I feel like this year’s team is different. They play for each other.”
Kentwood (8-2) went 4-0 in District 6-1A and they put up big numbers. KHS scores 32 points a game, much like Plain Dealing did. Kentwood still spreads the field and tries to make the opposing defense chase them. Basile will have to do more of a contain job than a pursue job.
On offense, the Bearcats may find the answer they need to slay the giant is right in front of them. Rather than score quickly and give the Roos the ball back, keeping the ball for slow methodical drives may be the answer. They sure have the weapons to do that. With a powerful offensive line and the running of Kendrick Ceasar and Clintrell Sias, Basile can keep the ball by getting three and four yards at a time. The emerging of Gabriel Fontenot as a running back will be the tactic that Kentwood may not be able to keep up with. Fontenot can run with power or speed. The trio of running backs don’t have to score every time they touch the football. They simply need to hold on to it and get what yards they can. That will keep Kentwood’s potent offense off the field and grounded.
In the past, Kentwood has been able to score quickly and put Basile on the ropes in the first quarter. Basile’s offensive line has to make it a mission to push Kentwood back off the ball each and every snap.
Kentwood has two losses this season and both have come to Class 3A schools. They lost to Jewel Sumner 20-8 early in the season. In that game, JSHS slowed the game way down. They forced Kentwood to make mistakes when they became impatient and tried to force plays. Jewel Sumner is really not much different from Basile, with the exception of size.
Kentwood’s other loss came to West Feliciana, another Class 3A school in the Baton Rouge area. The Saints beat Kentwood 36-16 and used the same tactic of slowing the game down and not allowing the Roos to score quickly.
Kentwood did exactly what they wanted against Oberlin. They scored quickly as the OHS boys chased them up and down the field. KHS whipped Oberlin 53-30, but the game was never in question.
This may be the best year for Basile to pull the win over Kentwood. The Kangaroos pulled a 40-6 win in 2011, 42-13 in 2005 and a 39-10 win in 2004. For Basile, it’s simple, keep the game close until the fourth quarter, wear the visiting team out and then take the win in the final minutes of the game.
The Cats will have another pair of advantages tomorrow night. The cold weather and the huge backing of their home crowd, faculty and administration.
It should be a good game and the stands should be packed on both sides of the stadium.