Photograph: Opelousas Catholic running back Eli Chelette scores another touchdown against Port Barre. (Photograph courtesy of Mike Curley.)
BOBBY ARDOIN
Editor/Consulting Writer
Territorial advantage was seized quickly by Opelousas Catholic as the Vikings’ linemen took control of the game and the outcome Thursday night.
Running backs Eli Chelette and Chris Brown skillfully followed their blockers during a first quarter OCS dominance that established a 30-point lead for an eventual 52-0 victory at Port Barre High.
It was the first win of the season for the Vikings and prolonged an OCS winning streak against Port Barre dating back to 2011.
OCS finished the game with 425 rushing yards, as Chelette and Brown combined for seven touchdowns.
Brown finished with 159 yards and four TD’s on eight attempts. Chelette deftly moved through holes on inside traps and counters for 117 yards on 18 attempts and three touchdowns.
Defensively the Vikings allowed the Red Devils minus 39 rushing yards. Port Barre completed two passes for 23.
OCS head coach Thomas David said his linemen on both sides of the ball provided the difference.
“We felt good about what we thought we could do on the line of scrimmage. We also didn’t miss as many tackles. In our first two games against two good opponents, we still played well up front. We have some pretty good skill guys and our guys on the line of scrimmage played well again. Our linemen have been the backbone of what success we have had over the last two seasons,” David said.
The game quickly slipped away from Port Barre before many of the arriving spectators had settled into their seats.
Chelette scored the first two TD’s during the first seven minutes and 14 seconds after Brown set the drives up with runs of 31 and 18 yards.
That 14-0 advantage began to expand after Kade Bidstrup recovered a Port Barre fumble at the Devils’ 35 and Brown turned the turnover into points with a 13-yard run.
The contest continued to be played on the Port Barre end and Brown ended a brief 25-yard drive with a nine-yard run after Nolan Fourrier set up the possession with an interception.
Brown’s touchdown enabled the Vikings to lead 30-0 after just eight game-clock minutes.
David complained that following the four-touchdown lead that his team lost focus and during the final three quarters the Vikings compiled 110 accepted penalty yards.
“We were executing well on both sides of the ball and then as we started feeling good about ourselves we got sloppy,” David said.
Despite the growing cascade of penalties, Brown augmented the OCS advantage with a 57-yard touchdown run on his first second half carry (11:33) and then added his fourth touchdown five minutes later on another six yard attempt.
David also complimented Chelette, who used his blockers expertly.
“(Chelette) is a kid that has come along and become a major contributor by working hard in the weightroom. He has his chance now to do some things for us by running hard and using his quickness,” David added.
What’s ahead? Opelousas Catholic has a scheduled game against Southern Lab at Donald Gardner Stadium. Port Barre opens District 5-3A at Mamou,
