Tigers Grab A Win
BOBBY ARDOIN
St. Landry Now.com Editor
Game night lights for his team are looking less intimidating now, says Opelousas High head football coach Harry Coleman, as patience and experience are apparently providing a reward.
That was obvious for Opelousas on Thursday night as the Tigers opened District 5-4A by defeating Livonia 44-0 at Donald Gardner Stadium.
It was also the first victory for Coleman, who became head coach of the program in February.
Coleman said the win was achieved primarily by overcoming the type of mistakes that at times plagued Opelousas earlier this year.
“All season it’s been a case of getting experience for most of our guys. For many of them it was the first time getting the live action. It really hasn’t been difficult, but this was something that many of them had never done before and a matter of growing up,” Coleman added.
The Tigers (1-5) rushed for 276 yards and passed for another 199 against Livonia (3-4, 1-1).
Freshman running back Joseph Clues rushed for most of that yardage (200) and scored three second half touchdowns,
Coleman said Clues has the kind of potential that Coleman wants to nurture as the high school career for his running back moves forward.
“We’ve wanted to get (Clues) going and keep his confidence up. I think we can develop him into an everyday kind of back and a three-down back that can play at the next level. It was something that we saw earlier in the season,” Coleman added.
Opelousas grabbed a 14-0 first quarter lead against Livonia and by the third quarter the Tigers were in control of a four-score game.
The Tigers, Coleman added, never deviated from their original strategy..
“We came in with our offensive plan, saw it was working and kind of went with it all the way. There was never a reason to change,” Coleman said.
What was also evident was erasing the penalty issue that plagued the Tigers in a 34-33 loss to Natchitoches Central last Friday night.
Only 29 yards of accepted penalties were marked off against Opelousas against Livonia, compared to last week when the Tigers were assessed penalties totaling 170.
Opelousas quarterback Collin Rideau completed 10-of-13 passes for 97 yards, while rushing 10 times for 63 and one touchdown.
Marley Richard had five receptions for 65 yards. Defensively Richard recorded seven tackles.
Perhaps the most dynamic score of the game occurred in the first quarter when Jaylon Owens returned a punt for a 90-yard touchdown.
Owens returned an intercepted pass for 80 yards last week against Natchitoches.
Opelousas continues a district schedule in Week 8 when the Tigers travel to play Cecilia.
