Photograph: St. Edmund head football coach James Shiver poses with Blue Jays’ standout Kevon Johnson (5) and Copeland Miller (13). (Photograph by Freddie Herpin.)
BOBBY ARDOIN
Editor/Consulting Writer
St. Edmund running back Kevon Johnson kept his position as a state rushing leader on Thursday night, while the Blue Jays introduced an effective passing attack ahead of their start of district contests.
Johnson gained 165 yards in a 30-20 win over Oakdale at Blue Jay Field, pushing his overall season rushing total to 1,079 yards.
However the Jays also featured a passing game that produced three touchdowns and 203 yards as St. Edmund improved to 4-1.
St. Edmund junior quarterback Kane West connected twice with wide receiver Blake Moran on first half scoring passes of 18 and 51 yards. Jays’ receiver Seth Aucoin caught another TD throw of 48 from West, who has now passed for 674 yards this year.
The win was the fourth straight for St. Edmund, which started the season with a loss to South Lafourche.
Since then the Jays have also defeated Nolan Lake (Texas), Westminster Christian (Lafayette) and Crescent City.
Overall St. Edmund compiled 381 total yards against the Warriors who compiled 265.
Oakdale entered the game against St. Edmund undefeated.
The Blue Jays begin district games next week against North Central.
Tracking Johnson
Johnson, a sophomore, has now gained over 1,000 yards in each of his first two high school seasons.
This year Johnson is averaging 7.7 yards per carry. He has scored 16 rushing touchdowns.
Against Oakdale Johnson scored the only offensive touchdown for the Jays. Johnson broke loose on a 22-yard run with 3:45 left in the third period, ending a seven-play, 76-yard drive.
Passing It Around
Moran was the top-targeted receiver for St. Edmund, with six catches for 98 yards. This season Moran remained as one of the top St. Landry Parish receivers, with 17 catches for 385 yards and five touchdowns.
West and Moran collaborated on the first score of the game on an 18-yard completion. The scoring play with 6:58 left in the first period, ended an 11-play, 47-yard scoring drive.
The 48-yard West throw to Anderson occurred with 23 seconds before the end of the first period.
In the second quarter Moran caught the 51-yard throw by West for another touchdown.
