Jonathan Dartez and the Vermilion Catholic Eagles are no strangers to winning and putting up big numbers. But on the road facing off against a 2-1 Riverside Academy, ensured a tough challenge ahead. Riverside, whose only loss this season was to Terrebonne in a close 48-44 game, entered the game fresh off of a 67-point shutout victory last week and ready to bring the fight to the undefeated VC. This was also a statement game for the Eagles, as Riverside was the team that knocked them out of the playoffs last year in the semifinals, ending their undefeated season and run to the ring.
Dartez and the Eagles got off to a quick start after receiving the opening kickoff. He showcased his mobility early getting into the endzone with a run to put his team up 7-0. This was only the beginning of what would be a huge game for the senior QB.
After another TD run from Dartez to go up 14-0, Riverside would move the ball all the way down within the 10-yard line. But the Eagles’ defense would make a stand on 4th and Goal, getting their offense the ball back. Vermilion Catholic would waste no time with Dartez showing off his throwing ability to his favorite target TE Allen McLain III for what would end up being an 87-yard touchdown.
The Rebels’ RB duo consists of SR Dedric Lastie and FR Kenric Johnson and they both made some great plays for the team tonight. Dedric Lastie was able to get Riverside their first touchdown on the scoreboard making the score 21-7. For the rest of the game after this, their offense took off not looking back. But the early 14-to-21-point lead to start the game from VC would in the end be a huge weight holding the Rebels back.
The Eagles’ offense was buzzing as they have been all season and Dartez would come back adding another TD, dropping in a perfect pass to Eagles TE Allen McLain over the middle and putting the team up 28-7. These high-powered offenses were both warmed up and ready to go now. Riverside QB Brock Bourgeois would find WR Nehemiah Phillip on a 4th down in the endzone, punching right back, in what was looking to be an offensive night ahead.
Out of the half, the score was still sitting at 28-14 but the Rebels were moving down the field as they did most of the night. But the Eagles’ defense was the textbook definition of “bend, don’t break” tonight with another defensive stop on 4th down in the redzone, allowing no points. Both of the offenses were buzzing and this was not a game that would be won by taking field goals. Dartez and the offense also were rewarding their defense for every stop they got, building on the lead. He would show off his speed, outrunning defenders down the sideline almost the length of the field, for a 91-yard touchdown, which was his 5th of the night.
Riverside got their sideline pumped up and even a few Eagles fans’ approval with a trick play that was called and executed perfectly. WR Preston Brown would catch a lateral pass from the quarterback and pull back to make a 48-yard touchdown pass to a familiar face Nehemiah Phillip for his 2nd TD of the game.
Nehemiah Phillip showcased his skills today in a great game with 3 touchdown catches and was the #1 receiver for the Rebels tonight. Whether it was a screen pass or a bomb down the field, when he got the ball in his hands, he was a playmaker. The infamous Louisiana weather would come calling bringing in a sudden downpour of rain to start the 4th. This was no problem for VC on offense as they would lean into what was already working even more. Dartez would end up getting his 7th touchdown of the game through the run game, weaving through defenders and making a dive for the pylon on a special night.
The Rebels’ star talent would make plays all game for them trying to scrape their way back into the game. RB Dedric Lastie showed off his elusiveness once again with a back juke that saved him from a loss, then reversed field and got to the pylon for his 2nd score of the night.
Unfortunately, the Rebels could not do enough to claw themselves out of the early hole that they were in. Their offense was electric enough to put up a good amount of points but the offense on the other side was able to capitalize on mostly all of their opportunities. The game would end on another QB run for the first down to ice the game and the Eagles would line up in victory formation, with a knee from Dartez taking the clock to 0. The final score was 49 to 34 in an offensive-heavy game from both teams.
Vermilion Catholic improves to 5-0 on the season and looks to stay focused on each game ahead as they all are as important as the next. Riverside moves to a very respectable 2-2 on the season with their 2 losses being competitive games against great opponents.
Check out my post-game interview with VC QB Jonathan Dartez after the 7-touchdown performance below:
Check out my spotlight DITR article on VC QB Jonathan Dartez HERE.
