Photograph: North Central linebacker Henry Horton chases down a Port Barre running back during the parish jamboree Aug. 26. (Photograph by Freddie Herpin.)
BOBBY ARDOIN
Editor/Consulting Writer
North Central High is establishing historical football program standards, but the success that has been achieved so far doesn’t seem that surprising to Hurricanes’ head coach Jacob Carruth.
Carruth, in his second season at the school, has the Hurricanes flourishing in unchartered territory as North Central is 3-2 overall and basking in a three-game winning streak for the first time anyone can remember.
North Central ended the pre-district schedule Friday night with a 36-0 victory at Northwood-Lena in another benchmark statement victory.
The win over Northwood, Carruth added, gives the Hurricanes three football victories for the first time since 2000. Winning three football games in a row is something Carruth thinks probably hasn’t been done at the school since its inception in 1991.
“The mood (at North Central) has really changed this year. We’ve won the three games because the kids believe in themselves and they think we are able to win more than three games,” Carruth said in a Saturday interview.
Carruth said the Hurricanes have the potential to defeat anyone on their schedule providing they don’t self-destruct.
“We treat every opponent the same, whether they are 0-5 or 5-0. If we bring our game then there is no way that we are going to get beat. The big thing for us in order to win games, we have to avoid turnovers and keep from beating ourselves,” Carruth added.
Carruth said the Hurricanes’ accomplishment so far is not something that is unexpected.
“I think the big surprise about us is for the people who are on the outside looking in,” said Carruth.
The Hurricanes led Northwood 14-0 at halftime.
Sophomore quarterback Craig Malveaux rushed for 106 yards on seven carries and scored three times. Malveaux also completed 12 of 14 passing attempts. Devion Lavergne finished the game with seven receptions, 97 yards and a touchdown reception.
Malveaux has done the job all season of becoming the offensive leader, said Carruth.
Carruth thought the Hurricanes benefitted from what he called a light week of practice.
“We had a couple of injuries, so we just stayed focused mentally. Northwood can run the football, so we felt as if we could stop that, we would be all right.
What’s next? North Central goes to Eunice Friday night to play St. Edmund in a district game.
