CCHS defeats LCA, 48-28

Central Catholic unleashed Samarick Paul on Lafayette Christian Academy Friday, and the senior led the Eagles to a 48-28 Division IV first-round playoff win.
Paul accounted for 339 yards and four touchdowns, not to mention kick returns for nearly 100 more yards.
“Samarick is a super athlete,” Central Catholic coach Tommy Minton said. “He blew out his knee in the jamboree last year and missed the whole season. He’s come back this year and had a great season.”
Paul carried eight times for 157 yards, including a 95-yard touchdown run, and he had three catches for 82 yards and two touchdowns. He also completed 2-of-2 passes for 100 yards and a score.
No. 12-seed Central Catholic will host No. 4-seed Westminster Christian in the quarterfinal round Friday at Tiger Stadium in Morgan City.
In the Eagles’ first-round win against No. 5 Lafayette Christian Academy, Paul was forced under center early in the second quarter when starting quarterback Blake Byrne when down with an injury.
Byrne is expected to miss two to three weeks Minton surmised.
The senior was 4 of 5 passing for 71 yards and a 50-yard touchdown to Paul before leaving the game with Central Catholic leading 14-0.
Lafayette Christian standout Zach Clement got the Knights back into the game on the next possession with runs of 29 and 20 yards to cap the drive. The PAT kick failed, so Central Catholic led 14-6 with 1:33 left in the first quarter.
Ja’len Johnson gave the ball back to Central Catholic with an interception to stop a long Lafayette Christian drive to start the second quarter.
Paul took advantage of the turnover, racing 95 yards for a score on a quarterback keeper, and Central Catholic extended the lead to 21-6 with 6:07 left in the first half.
The Eagles got another takeaway on a Clement fumble on the first play of the Knights’ next possession.
Standout running back Chris Singleton then got into the act with a 47-yard touchdown run with 5:10 remaining before halftime. Singleton also had a big night with 27 carries for 177 yards and three touchdowns.
“I told the guys that if we got three turnovers, we would win the game,” Minton said. “We got four.”
CCHS led 34-6 at halftime.
Bailey Badeaux and Byrne rounded out the CCHS rushers with 41 and eight yards, respectively.
Central Catholic added to its lead when Paul hooked up with Blake Hidalgo on an 85-yard pitch and catch with 8:08 left in the third quarter.
Lafayette Christian had its moments in the third and early fourth quarter, completing three long touchdown passes to pull to 41-28 with 11:15 left in the game.
“That’s a good offense over there, and we lost a little focus in the third quarter,” Minton said. “Not many teams held them to 28 points this season.”
Central Catholic (7-4) avenged a 46-42 home loss to Lafayette Christian earlier this season in District 7-1A action.
DeDe Gant closed out the game at quarterback for Central Catholic, completing 2-of-5 passes for 45 yards and a score. Gant hit Paul for a 20-yard score with 2:42 remaining, and Paul intercepted Lafayette Christian’s pass with 2 minutes left to secure the win.
Central Catholic rolled up 599 yards of offense (383 rushing and 216 passing).