Berwick will host Donaldsonville Friday

By CORWIN MURRAY
Berwick will host Donaldsonville in District 9-3A play Friday.
Berwick (2-5, 0-1) jumped out to a 14-0 lead last week, scoring on its first two drives against Lafayette Christian, but could not hold on in the final minutes of the game as it fell 28-24.
Berwick’s Justin Morvant picked off a pass on Lafayette Christian’s first offensive play of the game that quickly was followed up with Marquis Rogers’ 8-yard touchdown run just 26 seconds into the first quarter.
On the Panthers’ second drive, Brooks Richard scored on an 11-yard run to end a 52-yard drive less than seven minutes into the game.
However, on Berwick’s next possession, Richard fumbled after making a catch, turning it over to Lafayette Christian at Berwick’s 24-yard line.
Two plays later, Lafayette Christian’s Myles Lawrence scored on a 1-yard run with 1:37 remaining in the first quarter.
The Knights scored again after a 74-yard drive finished on another 1-yard touchdown run by Lawrence. Lafayette Christian had one more chance to score a touchdown before halftime but blew it, fumbling the ball out the end zone for a touchback.
The game was tied at 14 at halftime, but Berwick scored on the opening drive of the second half.
Lafayette Christian responded with a 3-yard touchdown pass from Regan Miller to Sterling Miller.
The Panthers answered with a 31-yard touchdown pass from Bobby Boudreaux to Richard on third-and-15 with 3:43 left in the third quarter.
Berwick held onto a 24-21 lead until the game’s final three minutes when Lawrence scored on an 8-yard run with 2:54 remaining for a 28-24 Lafayette Christian lead.
Berwick made a last-ditch effort to stay in the game by faking a punt on fourth-and-sixth, but Boudreaux failed to complete a pass on the play.
“We made some big plays early and got up on them. We just couldn’t hold the lead,” Berwick head coach Craig Brodie said after the game.
Brodie could not be reached for comment for this week’s preview.
The Panthers finished with 225 yards total offense against Lafayette Christian. Berwick is averaging 269 yards per game.
Boudreaux leads the team in rushing (93 carries for 319 yards, six touchdowns) and passing (36-of-94 for 508 yards with five touchdowns and five interceptions).
Other top rushers included Richard (27-294 yards, three touchdowns) and Morvant (41-246 yards).
The top receivers are Richard (15 catches for 250 yards, two touchdowns) and Morvant (7-113 yards).
Brodie said his team gave a good effort and some second-string players stepped up to replace injured players.
“We’ve made a lot of progress this year over the previous two years, and that’s what we have to look at,” Brodie said. “We’ve been in a lot of games even though we had the losses.”
Berwick had an opportunity to win all but two of its seven games this season, Brodie said.
“We’ve got to feel good about that. We’ve just got to learn how to finish, and we will as the kids grow up a little more and get more experience,” he added.
Donaldsonville (3-4, 0-2) was overpowered by Patterson 50-7 Friday.
The Tigers only had 125 yards of total offense (32 rushing and 93 passing). Donaldsonville actually ran the ball pretty well at times, but Patterson made some huge negative plays. Junior running back Tajh Gillard leads the rushing attack.
Leondre James, a Tulane commit as a receiver, played quarterback for the Tigers Friday. He was 7-of-22 passing for 93 yards and two touchdowns.
Donaldsonville has good athletes at wide receiver but couldn’t beat Patterson’s man-coverage. The Tigers also were slowed by four turnovers (two fumbles and two interceptions).
Kickoff is 7 p.m.