South Beauregard in search of first postseason victory
Published 10:08 am Friday, November 14, 2014
South Beauregard is 0-7 all-time in the high school football playoffs.
That hasn’t stopped coach Dwight Hudler and the No. 8-seeded Golden Knights (8-2) from being optimistic about their chances in tonight’s Class 3A playoff opener against No. 25 Avoyelles (5-5).
“Those seniors have only been here four years and I’ve only been here three (years),” Hudler said. “It’s one of those deals where we’re not making the moment any bigger than it is.”
That doesn’t mean South Beauregard isn’t without challenges tonight.
Hudler said Avoyelles doesn’t punt and often attempts onside kicks.
They average 40 points per game and had an 80-point game in the regular season. They’re led by an impressive pair of running backs in Phillip Augustine and Chris Trowers. Augustine has run for 1,687 yards and 20 touchdowns on 155 carries with Trowers gaining 1,596 yards and 23 TDs on 179 carries.
“Both of them have put up really big numbers,” Hudler said. “They’ve had a lot of offensive success … they ride their run game.
“They do a good job of getting numbers to certain sides.”
Their problem area is a defense that gives 36.2 points per game. The Knights will look to running back Shea Holland, the state’s third-leading rusher, to exploit the Avoyelles defense. Holland ran for 1,914 yards and 21 TDs on 243 regular-season carries.
“We have what we pretty much consider a smash-mouth attack,” Hudler said. “There’s no secret, we run the ball.”
No. 21 Donaldsonville at No. 12 Iowa
The Yellow Jackets (7-3) got a tough first-round draw in the Tigers (5-5).
Donaldsonville’s difficult regular season included losses to 5A playoff teams Dutchtown and Scotlandville, district opponents and playoff teams E.D. White and Patterson and Division IV playoff team Southern Lab.
“Nowadays you can’t go off of anyone’s record,” Iowa head coach Sean Richard said. “Teams play such tough schedules.”
They’ll provide a test for Iowa’s secondary, led by Tulane commitment Chaz Key. Donaldsonville’s receiving corps features LSU commitment Stephen Sullivan and Jaquel Grant. The pair stand 6-foot-6 and 6-foot-4, respectively.
“We’re going to definitely have to execute and mix up our coverages,” Richard said. “We’re going to have to match up to make up for the size difference we have. We’ll have to be physical on the line of scrimmage.
“They’re a 61-percent passing team,” Richard said. “We expect them to give us their best effort and play us tough.”
No. 22 Fair Park at No. 11 LaGrange
LaGrange (6-4), rides a six-game winning streak into a game against pass-happy Fair Park (6-4).
Quarterback Se’derrick Smith threw for 314 yards last week with wide receiver C.J. Thomas caught 170 of those yards.
“Coach (Mike) Greene does a great job at Fair Park,” LaGrange coach Jules Sullen said “They have a lot of athletes, good skill guys that can run. I am impressed with them offensively.”
LaGrange isn’t looking past the Indians.
“We reminded our kids that this is the playoffs and that Fair Park is coming down here to win, and on any given night anybody can be beaten,” Sullen said. “We are going to have to play at our highest level in order to win.”
Roddy Johnson
