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Central Catholic High School will travel to face Centerville Thursday in a key District 7-1A contest.
With a win, Central Catholic (4-4 overall, 3-1 in district) will play for a share of the district title next week in its season finale against Vermilion Catholic after Vermilion Catholic edged Lafayette Christian Academy 10-9 last week.
However, the Eagles must first tackle an explosive Centerville team that is averaging 44.3 points a game.
The game, originally scheduled for Friday, was moved up a day due to expected inclement weather Friday.
As for the Bulldogs, the squad runs a wing-t offense that has produced 2,954 yards of offense, including 2,851 yards rushing.
The Bulldogs ground game is led by senior Matthew Lebourgeois, who has rushed 92 times for 1,082 yards and 15 touchdowns. He averages 11.8 yards a carry. Other top ball carriers are junior Jaylon Cooks, who has carried 81 times for 581 yards and five touchdowns; senior Noah Verret, 53 carries for 455 yards and seven touchdowns; and freshman Morty Frederick, who has 53 carries for 431 yards and four scores.
“They’re executing well on offense, and our defense is going to have to show up and play a great ball game,” Central Catholic Coach Tommy Minton said.
A week ago in a 63-14 victory against Highland Baptist, Centerville totaled 676 yards of offense, including 656 rushing.
Lebourgeois rushed 24 times for 341 yards and three scores, while Verret added 18 carries for 200 yards and three touchdowns.
Centerville and Central Catholic met earlier this season in Central Catholic’s jamboree in which the Eagles rallied for a 20-12 victory.
“When you look at this ball game, there’s a lot of familiarity there,” Minton said. “No. 1, me and Coach (Mark) Millet know each other really, really well. We worked together at Patterson for five years. He does a great job. He’s a fundament coach. He loves the game of football, and he teaches it in its purest form. A physical, physical football is what he puts out there.
“I know his schemes,” Minton added. “He knows my schemes, so you’re going to do a little tinkering to try to fool the other guy, but for the most part, you’re going to see hard-nosed football on each side. I think turnovers play a big part in that. Penalties play a big part in that. The team that can commit the least turnovers and commit the least number of penalties is going to have an advantage because of the familiarity between the two teams.”
A week ago, Central Catholic held off Hanson Memorial for a 16-12 win.
Like Centerville, the Eagles are led by their ground game this season. Senior running back Chris Singleton has 152 carries for 1,112 yards and 15 touchdowns, while sophomore quarterback Davidyione Bias has 110 carries for 548 yards and five touchdowns.
Sophomore quarterback Taylor Blanchard has completed 31 of 61 passes for 447 yards with two touchdowns and seven interceptions.
Junior DeDe Gant is the Eagles’ leading receiver with 18 receptions for 295 yards and a touchdown, while Brooks Thomas has caught 10 passes for 138 yards and two scores.
Thursday’s game also has some significance for Minton, who is one win away from joining an elite group with 200 career coaching victories.
“I tell everybody the first thing it means is I’m getting old,” Minton laughed. “I’ve been doing this a long time, but I’ve been extremely blessed throughout my coaching career. I’ve been surrounded by a lot of lot of good football coaches that I’ve got to work with, and I’ve gotten to coach a lot of good athletes”
Minton said that the 200 wins would be more “a reflection” of the quality players and coaches he has teamed with to make it happen.
“I enjoy what I’m doing, and I’ve been able to do it for a long amount of time, and hopefully I can do it for quite a few more years because I’m still having a lot of fun,” Minton said.
While he recognized the significance of the win mark, Minton said he was hopeful he could reach the mark and move on from it because the true focus needs to be on Thursday’s game and what’s at stake with a win.
“If we can win that football game, we play week 10 for a share of the district championship, and to me, these seniors deserve that opportunity and that’s the most important thing,” he said.
Thursday’s game will be broadcast by KQKI 105.9 FM.

Berwick High School and Abbeville High School each will be looking to break losing streaks when the teams meet in Abbeville Friday in District 8-3A action.
After a 5-1 start to the season, including a 1-0 mark in District 8-3A play, Berwick has lost two straight district contests, falling to Kaplan two weeks ago and Patterson 21-16 last Friday.
Meanwhile, Abbeville (2-6) has lost three straight games, including its first three in District 8-3A action.
A week ago, the Wildcats fell to district foe North Vermilion 20-14.
Abbeville is led this season by its ground game.
Deon Williams leads the squad with 108 carries for 364 yards and four touchdowns, while teammate Tavian Menard has rushed 69 times for 300 yards and three scores. Quarterback Chad Celestine has 49 carries for 296 yards and three touchdowns, and Tavis Briggs has contributed 49 carries for 252 yards and three touchdowns.
Through the air, Celestine has completed 30 of 78 passes for 366 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions.
Celestine’s leading receiver is Channing Spears, who has hauled in 11 passes for 141 yards and a touchdown.
While Berwick’s ground game is capable, the squad is headlined by its passing attack. Junior quarterback Mitchell Sanford has completed 130 of 254 passes for 2,422 yards with 33 touchdowns and 8 interceptions.
Sanford’s leading receiver is senior Josh Carver, who has caught 56 passes for 1,103 yards and 17 touchdowns. Fellow senior receiver and LSU commit Kenan Jones has 39 catches for 780 yards and two touchdowns. However, Jones did not play a week ago due to an injury.
Berwick’s ground game is led by junior running back Josh Jones, who has 110 carries for 875 yards and nine touchdowns. Sanford has rushed 54 times for 439 yards and two scores.
Berwick High School Coach Eric Holden wasn’t available for comment.
Additional reporting by The Abbeville Meridional.

A 19-year-old Napoleonville man was booked on multiple drug charges Wednesday after Morgan City police stopped a vehicle being operated with improper lighting, Police Chief James Blair said in a news release.

—Toby K. Gros, 19, of La. 40 in Napoleonville, was arrested at 1:26 p.m. Wednesday on charges of possession of amphetamine/dextroamphetamine, possession of Focalin XR, possession of alprazolam, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, improper lighting and registration required.

Patrol officers observed a vehicle being operated in the area of La. 182 with improper lighting. A stop was initiated, and Gros was identified as the driver, Blair said.

Gros was in possession of suspected marijuana, amphetamine/dextroamphetamine, Focalin XR, alprazolam and drug paraphernalia, Blair said.

Gros was unable to provide officers with a valid prescription for the medication that was located, Blair said. Police also learned that the registration on the vehicle Gros was operating had been canceled, Blair said. Gros was jailed.

Blair reported responding to 41 calls and reported the following arrests:

—Kerry Lucas, 56, of Aucoin Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 4:18 p.m. Wednesday on a charge of possession of Vyvanse with intent to distribute and on a St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office warrant charging him with criminal trespassing.

Patrol officers responded to the area of Front Street in regard to a suspicious person. Officers arrived, and Lucas was identified. During the investigation, investigators learned that Lucas was in the area attempting to sell Vyvanse, Blair said.

Lucas was found to be in possession of suspected Vyvanse to which he allegedly admitted to attempting to sell, Blair said. Lucas also had an active arrest warrant through the St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office. Lucas was jailed.

—Sherry R. Whittington, 55, of Brashear Avenue in Morgan City, was arrested at 6:56 p.m. Wednesday on charges of theft less than $1,000 and disturbing the peace.

Patrol officers responded to a business in the area of Seventh Street in regard to a theft. Officers arrived, and Whittington was identified as a person involved, Blair said. The victim had purchased items valued at $38.20 at a business.

The victim continued shopping at another business and placed the bag with the clerk. Allegedly Whittington, who was another patron in the business, obtained possession of the bag and left the business.

Whittington began to yell profanities at another local business in the area. Whittington was jailed.

—Edward Briggs, 28, of East Kruger Street in Westwego, was arrested at 8:30 p.m. Wednesday on charges of possession of marijuana, improper lighting and driving under suspension.

Narcotics division investigators observed a vehicle being operated in the area of Sixth Street with improper lighting. A stop was initiated, and Briggs was identified as the driver, Blair said.

Briggs’ Louisiana Driver’s License was found to be under suspension. Briggs was also found to be in possession of suspected marijuana. Briggs was jailed.

—Wayne Clark, 45, of Lenny’s Lane in Amelia, was arrested at 10:01 p.m. Wednesday on charges of reckless operation of a motor vehicle and open alcoholic beverage in a motor vehicle.

Narcotics division investigators observed a vehicle being operated in a reckless manner in the area of Railroad Avenue.

The vehicle was observed traveling at a high rate of speed and swerving around other vehicles forcing them to the shoulder of the roadway, Blair said. A stop was initiated, and Clark was identified as the driver, Blair said. Clark was in possession of an open alcoholic beverage within the vehicle. Clark was jailed.

St. Mary Parish Sheriff Mark Hebert reported responding to 45 complaints in the parish and reported no arrests in east St. Mary Parish.

Berwick Police Chief James Richard reported no arrests.

Patterson Police Chief Patrick LaSalle reported no arrests.