OCS Fast Tracks Win
BOBBY ARDOIN
Editor/Consulting Writer
Too much Opelousas Catholic team speed at times created crucial mismatches for the Sacred Heart defense Thursday night.
OCS wide receiver Roderick Tezeno often experienced freedom inside the Trojans’ secondary, while Vikings’ running back Royce Butler broke past the line of scrimmage for two touchdowns .
“Our playmakers stepped up and were making plays,” said OCS head football coach Cullen Matherne, after the undefeated Vikings opened the district schedule with a 42-0 Donald Gardner Stadium win over Sacred Heart.
Sacred Heart head football coach Jacob Aguillard had to agree.
“They (OCS) are the fastest team we have played. We knew about their speed, but sometimes you can’t match that speed in practice,” said Aguillard.
Matherne also complimented the Vikings’ defense, which limited the Trojans to 179 yards.
Linebacker John Parker Trahan had a key interception and Matherne said OCS produced the shutout his players envisioned during the week of practice.
The 4-0 start for No.8-ranked OCS is a program best since 2019 when the Vikings went 6-0 during a 9-1 regular season.
Butler and Tezeno, both juniors, were responsible for most of the Vikings 467 total offensive yards.
Tezeno had six receptions for 195 yards and three touchdowns. Butler, who gained 149 yards by halftime, ended the game with 233 yards and two TD’s.
Both Tezeno and Butler scored on several explosive plays.
Butler took the Vikings’ first snap of the game from quarterback Kross Gillen and went 80 yards for the first OCS touchdown.
Then with eight minutes and 20 seconds remaining in the second quarter, Butler broke free on a 26-yard score.
Tezeno provided a game-changing 95-yard touchdown catch less than two minutes later, when he double moved on a Gillen pump fake and caught the throw just inside midfield.
In the second half Tezeno caught touchdown passes of 25 and 11 yards to account for the final scoring margin.
Matherne thought the first Tezeno touchdown reception was a pivotal offensive play.
Sacred Heart, trailing 14-0 at the time, downed a punt at the OCS 3-yard line. Two plays later Tezeno was in the end zone and the Vikings were leading 21-0.
“I think that play really opened the game up. (Gillen) got great protection from our offensive line that played phenomenal all night,” said Matherne.
The Trojans (3-1) dominated the time of possession until the score by Tezeno.
Sacred Heart ran 33 offensive plays during the second half, while the Vikings had 18 snaps and a four-score lead.
The Trojans rushed for 107 total yards. Running back Jude Hebert rushed for 85 on 22 attempts. In the second half Sacred Heart running back Gavin Patin carried 12 times for 48.
