Delhi Charter swamps E. Beauregard, 37-6

The Swamp – “You don’t see that every game.”
Those were the words from one of the two Baton Rouge area officials working the clock in the press box (why it took two of them when their bylaws didn’t even “allow” them to change the score is another story).
These words were uttered midway through the third quarter with Delhi Charter ahead 37-0.
What they were referring to was the sportsmanship shown by both teams as they continued to compete on a sloppy field, but after each play it seemed they would extend a hand to help each other up and slap each other on the helmet or pads and go back to the huddle.
In this crazy time we’re living in with protests, hate filled speech and a constant barrage of negative news it was refreshing to see that we can still compete as opponents but show mutual respect at the same time.
Meanwhile, the East Beauregard Trojans, who were runner-up in district 6-1A finish their season at 9-3, used their rugby type offense to control time of possession and managed to move the ball between the thirties most of the night. However each time the Trojans threatened to score, the Delhi Charter defense would stiffen and shutdown the drive as they approached the red zone. East Beau finally managed to squirt wingback M. J. Williams out of the scrum with just under a minute left in the game for a 50-yard score but that just made the final score 37-6 in favor of the home-standing Gators.
“E. Beauregard is very- disciplined and they do what they do on offense to control the clock and eventually they try to get one of those quick little backs free,” Delhi Charter Head Coach Brett Raley said after the game. “We knew they would move the ball some but we just tried to make them earn every yard.”
The Trojans, who had no penalties on the night, held the ball the first six minutes of the game, but got no points. DCS’ Kaleb Offord opened the scoring on the Gators’ second play from scrimmage and raced 73 yards for the TD. Mason Hale added the two-point conversion for the 8-0 lead. The second quarter was all Gators as they erupted for 22 points to blow open the game. Hale capped the next series with a four-yard run and added his second conversion run of the night to up the lead to 16-0 early in the second quarter.
Hale wasn’t finished as he attempted three passes on the night and two of them were for touchdowns. He found Rodney Mitchell behind the defense on a 25-yarder in the second quarter and then a seven-yard pass to Desmond Longino was the only score in the second half as the Gators were on cruise control. The defensive highlight of the night came with less than 30 seconds left in the second quarter when Azavier Stubblefield picked up EBH Quarterback Noah Gill’s fumble and returned it 29-yards for the score that really took the wind out of the Trojans making the score 30-0 at the half.
“With the weather and their style of play it wasn’t an eye-popping night statistically, but right now the key is just to win each game as they come.” Raley added.
Offord had 74 yards on three carries, while Joshua Poland, who had TDs of 63 and 55 yards called back due to penalties, finished the night with 57 yards on four carries. Kody Ellis was the workhorse with 14 carries for 53 yards. The Trojans M. J. Williams led all rushers with 92 yards on 15 carries. Coming into the game, it was noted that the Trojans very rarely punt and always onside kick which led to the real rare stat of the night in that DCS blocked both East Beau punts with Mitchell getting one and Kendall Offord the other.
Now DCS moves on to the quarterfinals to take on perennial power Haynesville Tornado and its 17 state championships. The Tornado is the #1 seed and comes into this game a perfect 11-0 after a 53-7 win over Lake Charles Prep Academy last week. The only teams that’s held the Tors under 40 points in the last eight weeks was Cedar Creek in week five in a 33-18 game. The only other time these two teams met was in a quarterfinal matchup back in 2009 with the Tors winning 32-18.
“When you get to this point in the playoffs, there are no easy games and this is what you play all these other games for is to find out if you’re the best team,” Raley said. “Most people picked Haynesville and Oak Grove as the favorites to be in the Superdome at the end but only one of the three of us will get that honor based on how the brackets fell. We played toe-to-toe with Oak Grove earlier this year and to be the best, you’ve got to beat the best. We’ll have to beat both of them the next two weeks to get to the carpet in New Orleans. It’s down to three games.”
It should be a great game and atmosphere Friday night. Just a reminder, kickoff in Haynesville is ALWAYS at 7:30 p.m. so you have a few extra minutes to get there next Friday for kickoff.