Ascension Episcopal eliminates CCHS in Division IV semifinals

Central Catholic got the defensive performance it needed Friday night in its Division IV semifinal contest against top-seeded Ascension Episcopal.
However, the offense came up a short as Central Catholic was eliminated from the postseason with a 31-21 loss.
Defensively, Central Catholic collected three turnovers – all in the first half – via a fumble recovery inside the Eagles’ red zone and two interceptions, one each by Blake Hidalgo and DeDe Gant.
However, the Eagles offense could not convert any of them into points.
Although Central Catholic trailed just 10-7 at halftime, the Eagles were held to just 40 yards of offense in the first half and two first downs.
While the Eagles offense moved the ball better in the second half and scored 14 points, Ascension Episcopal had an answer every time, putting up 21 points in the second half of play.
The Blue Gators also were turnover free in the second half.
In the loss, Central Catholic’s defense held Ascension Episcopal to its lowest point total all season. It was the first time since Week 3 that the Blue Gators has scored less than 40 points when they put up 34 against Delcambre.
“Our defense played as well as you could ask them the play,” Central Catholic coach Tommy Minton said. “We held a team to 31 points that has been averaging I think it’s around 46 a game. We just didn’t do enough on offense to help them. We had some opportunities, and we didn’t capitalize. We get some drives rolling a little bit, and we just couldn’t get any continuity going.”
With the loss, Central Catholic concludes its season with an 8-5 mark, while Ascension Episcopal remains perfect at 13-0. The Blue Gators will face No. 3 Southern Lab Friday at 10 a.m. in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in the Division IV championship game. Southern Lab advanced after knocking off No. 7 Cedar Creek, 56-0, in other semifinal action.
While neither team scored in the first quarter, Ascension Episcopal broke the scoreless game with 6:46 remaining in the second quarter when Jake Vascocu connected with Ronald LeBlanc on a 12-yard pass. Taylor Doss’ extra point was good for a 7-0 Ascension Episcopal lead.
Central Catholic needed little time to respond as Ja’len Johnson took the ensuing kickoff back 83 yards for a touchdown with 6:29 remaining in the second quarter. Drake Angeron’s extra point tied the score at 7.
Later in the half, Ascension Episcopal added a 32-yard field goal by Doss with 2:06 remaining.
The big play to set up the score was a 45-yard completion from Vascocu to Jack Leoni.
Vascocu completed 9 of 19 passes in the game for 256 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions, while he also rushed 13 times for 28 yards and a touchdown. Leoni had two receptions for 80 yards.
Ascension Episcopal received the ball to start the second half and didn’t need much time to extend its lead.
After running back Leo Franques was dropped for a two-yard loss on first down, Vascocu got a ball just by a Central Catholic defender to receiver Seth Kerkstetter, who turned around and raced to the end zone for a 75-yard pass play. Doss’ extra point extended Ascension Episcopal’s lead to 17-7 with 11:08 remaining in the third quarter.
The Eagles were able to get their run game going in the second half, and on its second possession of the third quarter, the squad moved the ball 85 yards in nine play, capped by a Samarick Paul 1-yard touchdown run with 11:55 remaining in the fourth quarter. Angeron’s extra point cut the Central Catholic deficit to 17-14.
While Minton said the coaches made some adjustments to help their run game in the second half, he said that the main issue with the run game stalling in the first half could have been Ascension Episcopal outplaying his squad in the initial 24 minutes.
“I was disappointed in that,” Minton said. “I talked to the kids about that at halftime, but the bottom line is they got the job done. We didn’t.”
Big plays on the drive included a 42 yard run by Chris Singleton and a 15-yard completion from Paul to Bailey Badeaux on a second-down-and-15 situation at the Ascension Episcopal 22.
Singleton led the Eagles’ ground game with 17 carries for 88 yards. Paul rushed nine time for 52 yards and a score, completed 1 of 2 passes for 15 yards and caught five passes for 73 yards and another touchdown.
After Central Catholic cut its deficit to just a field goal, Ascension Episcopal needed less than three minutes to extend its lead back to 10 points at 24-14 as Franques capped a seven-play, 56-yard drive with a 17-yard touchdown run with 9:14 left in the game. Doss’ extra point pushed the lead back to 24-14.
Franques led the Ascension Episcopal run game with 18 carries for 107 yards and a touchdown.
While Central Catholic countered on its next possession with a 32-yard touchdown pass from Gant to Paul with 4:55 left to cut its deficit to 24-21, Ascension Episcopal extended its lead again when Vascocu scored on a two-yard touchdown run with 54 seconds left for the 31-21 final margin.
Ascension Episcopal totaled 383 yards of offense (127 rushing and 256 passing), while Central Catholic had 281 yards of offense (185 rushing and 96 passing).
Gant completed 7 of 20 passes for 81 yards and a touchdown, while he also rushed six times for 31 yards.
Friday’s game was the last one for a large senior class, who Minton said took charge after a 1-3 start to the season to help the Eagles win seven of their last nine games.
“I’m proud that the senior could accomplish what they did accomplish,” he said.