Basile takes aim at defending district champion

<p class="indent">District 4-1A play starts with a bang this week as defending champion St. Edmund visits last season’s runner-up, Basile.</p><p class="indent">St. Edmund ran the table in district play last season, while Basile’s lone loss was to the Blue Jays in Eunice.</p><p class="indent">Both teams enter with a 2-1 record. Last week Basile beat Sacred Heart-Ville Platte 13-6 while St. Edmund blanked Mamou 27-0. The Blue Jays’ defense has allowed 22 points.</p><p class="indent">Bearcats head coach Kevin Bertrand said he likes the toughness his team showed last week.</p><p class="indent">“Our kids fought and stayed with it the whole four quarters,” he said. “It was a struggle the whole way, two evenly matched teams. We found a way to come away with the big play (a 74-yard touchdown run by Andre Reed) at the end.”</p><p class="indent">Bertrand said he expects a similar kind of game this week.</p><p class="indent">“St. Edmund runs the ball well and are a well-coached team that does not make many mistakes,” he said. “It is going to be a four-quarter battle. We are going to have to continue to tackle well. They put pressure on you running the option. They make you play assignment football.</p><p class="indent">You have to stay disciplined or they will hit the big play on you.”</p><p class="indent">The Bearcats have been getting big plays on the ground and in the air. Reed has run for 293 yards while quarterback Dawson Ashford has thrown for 276.</p><p class="indent">“We have been able to mix up the run and pass effectively,” Bertrand said. “The last two weeks we have played well on defense, especially when we have been put in short-field situations.”</p><p class="indent">Basile has allowed 34 points, 28 of which came in an opening-week loss to Class 3A Iota. The Bearcats shut out Mamou in Week 2 and held Sacred Heart scoreless in the second half last week.</p><p class="indent"><strong class="tag TTL">Elsewhere</strong></p><p class="indent">Hamilton Christian travels to play South Cameron on Thursday night with both teams in search of a first win. The Warriors are led by running back Reggie Jackson, who leads the area with 699 rushing yards.</p><p class="indent">In other games on Friday, Oberlin (3-0) seeks to maintain its perfect start when it hosts Merryville (0-3). The Tigers have allowed three points.</p><p class="indent">Grand Lake (1-2) got into the win column last week and looks to continue the momentum when it visits Elton (0-3).</p>Football District 4-1A graphic