Catholic High (Baton Rouge, LA) and Parkview Baptist (Baton Rouge, LA) faced off in their season opener at Memorial Stadium, Thursday, September 5th.
Catholic’s offense started with the ball, but failed to convert a first down on their opening series and was forced to punt.
Parkview’s offense opened in similar fashion. Baptist RB CJ Golden found little success on the ground against the stout Bruin defense, then an incomplete pass on 3rd down forced Parkview to punt.
Catholic’s offensive woes ended there. Bruin QB Jackson Thomas completed a series of passes for 1st downs, then aided by a Parkview penalty that pitted the Catholic offense into scoring territory. Following the penalty, Catholic senior RB LC Benjamin IV punched the ball in for the first score from scrimmage, putting the Bruins up 7-0.
Another Parkview penalty negated an offensive possession that began showing some promise, setting the Eagles back deep into their own territory which allowed the Bruin defense to force a second straight 3 and out.
A botched punt gave Catholic excellent field position inside Parkview territory. Bruin QB Thomas capitalized on the short field by tossing a beautiful pass, putting Catholic inside the Eagle 10 yard line. On the following play junior RB George Hart III powered his way into the endzone, giving Catholic High a 14 point lead.
Parkview continued to struggle offensively, and on a 2 and 8,Catholic’s junior FS Michael Cerniauskas forced an interception, returning it for a touchdown and a 21-0 Bruin lead.
Eagle RB CJ Golden finally picked up Parkview their first 1st down, but another penalty negated the gain. Following the penalty, the Bruin defense came up with another interception, making it back-to-back picks, this time coming from junior CB Connor Stewart.
Penalties shifted in Parkview’s favor following the interception, as Catholic High committed 3 consecutive penalties which set them up with a 1st and 30, knocking the Bruin’s out of Eagle territory. The penalties did not, however, affect the rolling Catholic offense, as QB Jackson Thomas completed a longball to WR Corey Singleton which put the Bruins down inside the Eagle 10 yard line. Parkview’s defense stepped up on the goalline, forcing a 4th and goal scenario for the Catholic offense with Eagle DE Zabian Boutan deflecting a pass at the line of scrimmage, forcing a 4th down for the Bruin offense. On the 3 point attempt, Parkview blocked the field goal but roughed the kicker, gifting the Catholic offense a fresh set of downs on the goal line. Catholic’s Hart III took a direct snap from the shotgun and found the endzone for his second score of the night, giving the Bruins a comfortable 27-0 lead.
Following Catholic’s touchdown drive, Parkview turned the ball over for a third time, this time in the way of a fumble which was recovered by Bruin DT Christian Mannino.
On the very first play following the fumble recovery, Jackson Thomas connected with senior Sam Ethridge for a 19 yard pass for a touchdown, giving Catholic 14 points off of turnovers and a 34-0 advantage.
Catholic’s dominant defense forced another 3 and out, as Parkview struggled to find any sort of offensive production and was forced to punt inside of their own 15, giving the Bruin offense great field position at the Parkview 40 yard line.
After picking up 10 yards and a first down on a QB draw, Jackson Thomas threw a screen to RB Braelon Morgan who found an open lane near the sideline, taking it 31 yards on a reception for another Bruin touchdown. 41-0 Catholic with 5 minutes remaining in the first half.
Parkview’s offense failed to find the endzone in the first half, while Catholic would go on to score two more times, giving the Bruins a halftime lead of 55-0.
In the second half, officials called off stoppage for the game clock, as Parkview Baptist presented little threat of a comeback.
Parkview’s offense would finally score late in the 4th quarter, denying Catholic the shuttout, with a final score of 62-7 and a Catholic win to start the season.
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