Photograph: Opelousas High wide receiver Mekhi Jones attempts to elude a tackler after catching a pass from Zach Malveau. (Photograph by Freddie Herpin.)
BOBBY ARDOIN
Editor/Consulting Writer
Amid the euphoria of five straight victories for a top-ranked team, Opelousas High head coach Jimmy Zachery, Jr. noted some troubling aspects Friday night as the Tigers seek a district championship.
Despite a 40-21 victory over Class 5A New Iberia, Zachery was worried about the back end performance of the Tigers who ended their pre-district schedule at Donald Gardner Stadium.
The win enables Opelousas to enter District 5-4A with enough momentum to make the Tigers a title contender for the first time since the 1990’s, but Zachery said his team needs to play better in order to capture a trophy.
Opelousas made it look easy in the first half, surging to a 34-7 lead, but during the second 24 minutes, New Iberia Zachery admitted, controlled the game.
The Tigers were outgained in the second half as New Iberia ran off 20 more offensive plays, something that had Zachery concerned.
New Iberia (1-5) finished with passing 195 yards, after throwing for only 77 during the first half.
“We got sloppy, got a little lax and we gave up some yards. They (New Iberia) were successful with some screens and we had some blown assignments. We’ve got a young club here and sometimes the success that you have with young players is what you saw happen,” said Zachery.
Nonetheless Zachery said it’s time for a final reset as Opelousas begins district play against Livonia this Friday night.
“We want the championship. We’ve played a schedule that we think will help us with that and now it’s up to us to go out and win it. Anything other than a (championship) is a bust,” Zachery said.
Sophomore running back De’Shaun Ford carried the running load with 139 yards on 20 carries.
“We came out wanting to run the ball and we did that (291 total rushing yards). We got some good work in with Kody Major (7 carries, 84),” said Zachery.
Quarterback Zach Malveaux, also a sophomore, accounted for 206 total offensive yards, throwing for 123 off seven completions, while running for 83 on eight attempts.
Receivers Corey Fontenot (3 receptions, 75 yards, 1 TD) and Mekhi Jones (3-45 yards) were the key targets for Malveaux.
The contest turned into an offensive affair, as the teams combined for 773 total offensive yards.
Ford scored the first of his two touchdowns on a 16-yard run that ended a game-opening, 80-yard drive.
On the next possession Malveaux ended the drive with a 20-yard run that provided Opelousas with a 13-0 lead.
Another Malveaux touchdown on the third Opelousas possession pushed the lead to 19-0 by the end of the first period.
Malveaux scored with six minutes 56 seconds left in the second quarter to give Opelousas a 27-0 advantage. It was the fourth score for OHS on as many possessions.
