Photograph: Opelousas High defensive back Landon Hammond breaks up a pass in the first quarter (Photograph by Freddie Herpin.)
BOBBY ARDOIN
Editor/Consulting Writer
Erase penalties and turnovers and the Opelousas High pregame script unfolded nearly as planned.
Lathering up the running game and applying doses of physical pressure to the Natchitoches Central offense as intended, Opelousas secured a first win of the season 27-7 Friday night at Donald Gardner Stadium.
The victory was also somewhat of a psychological panacea for his football team, said Opelousas head football coach Jimmy Zachery, Jr.
“This was real big for us, coming back with a win and bouncing back at home and beating a Class 5A team after we lost (to Teurlings Catholic) last week. Last year we started 0 and 5 and we weren’t letting that happen again,” said Zachery.
Zachery said the performance against Natchitoches (1-1) occurred the way he and his coaches intended.
“We wanted to play physical on defense and we knew that we would be able to run on them. We didn’t hold back on either offense and defense,” Zachery said.
Opelousas gained 315 rushing yards while quarterback Zach Malveaux threw for 56 off eight completions.
Defensive Opelousas highlights included interceptions by cornerback Justin Washington and safety Kyler Rideau.
Natchitoches rushed for 94 and passed for 56 yards.
The Tigers featured running backs Zay Amos (19 carries, 173 yards 1 TD) and D’Shaun Ford (15 carries 98 yards 2 TD’s).
Amos, named the St. Landry Now Athlete of the Week, broke the game open late in the first quarter with a 63-yard gain that set up Ford’s first touchdown run.
“I thought I was going to score, but my legs gave out from under me and the defensive back caught up with me,” said Amos.
Amos’ run highlighted a six-play, 90-yard scoring drive that came after the Chiefs dominated most of the initial period with a drive of nearly eight minutes that evaporated on fourth down at the Tigers’ 11-yard line.
Zachery said keeping Natchitoches out of the end zone at that point was significant, since Opelousas was able to gain possession and score two minutes and 12 seconds later.
The Opelousas defense regained command for the rest of the game as Natchitoches gained only 44 rushing yards the rest of the game.
Malveaux ended a 13-play, 76-yard scoring drive that ended just before the intermission though his third quarter fumble led to the Chiefs’ only score of the game when quarterback Lannon Collum passed 29 yards to Camryn Davis in the third quarter. That TD cut the score to 13-7.
The Amos TD came on a 21-yard touchdown that answered the Natchitoches score and Ford shut the door with a 57-yard scoring run with 6:37 remaining.
What’s next? Opelousas hosts Lake Charles College Prep Friday night.
