Photograph: Vikings’ quarterback Matt Collins passed for five touchdowns against Westminster. (Photograph by Freddie Herpin)
BOBBY ARDOIN
Editor/Consulting Writer
It took almost 20 game clock minutes before Opelousas Catholic was able to permanently flip the script and the field position Friday night at Donald Gardner Stadium.
When the Vikings’ offense did discover a comfortable groove, OCS exploded for six unanswered touchdowns and a 41-6 victory over Westminster Christian Academy in the District 5-1A opener for both teams.
Westminster (3-3) obtained advantageous field position for the entire first quarter and much of the second period until OCS (3-3) launched a 15-play, 75-yard scoring drive that enabled the Vikings to seize a 7-0 lead with seven minutes and 47 seconds left before halftime.
Following that touchdown – a three-yard pass thrown by Mark Collins to OCS receiver Dontre Henry – the Vikings unleashed a point avalanche that extended well into the late fourth quarter.
The Crusaders had OCS pinned back within sight of the Vikings’ goal line three times in the first quarter, but each time WCA failed to capitalize.
During those possessions inside the OCS end of the field, the Vikings’ defense held Westminster to 11 snaps that produced fewer than five positive yards and no pass completions.
Another three-and-out WCA offensive series provided the Vikings with a second long distance scoring opportunity, which in two plays provided OCS with a two-score edge.
That 76-yard drive ended on a 74-yard scoring pass from Collins to Roderick Tezeno and the Ladnon Miller point-after kick, his second of five, gave the Vikings a 14-0 lead.
After that the Crusaders squandered another scoring chance.
Westminster was given potentially an offensive field advantage late in the second period following a pair of Vikings’ unsportsmanlike penalties, but the Crusaders’ offense again failed to fabricate points.
Moving from their own 16-yard line, the Vikings grabbed a 20-0 halftime lead as Collins found receiver Rowen Bergeron open with a 16-yard scoring pass with 1:15 before the intermission.
For the fourth straight time, OCS scored on a Collins pass, this time after he ended a 53-yard drive with a 17-yard throw to Bergeron. The scoring play was the third reception by Bergeron during the drive that ended with 7:08 left in the third.
OCS, leading 27-0, began a fifth touchdown drive after the first of two Marley Richard interceptions.
Starting from the Vikings’ 20, Collins completed four consecutive passes – two to Tezeno, one to Beckett Boyd – and another to Royce Butler before running for a seven-yard score with 1:46 left in the third.
Collins made it six straight possessions with a TD on a 15-yard Tezeno completion. Bergeron caught a 31-yard throw to maintain the drive before the second play with 5:37 left in the game.
Westminster scored 24 seconds after the final OCS touchdown, when running back Joseph Brown broke free on a 48-yard run.
