Berwick loses third quarter lead in 30-21 loss to Jeanerette

After leading through three quarters, Berwick couldn’t hold on Friday night against the Jeanerette Tigers as the Tigers’ nearly 400 yards rushing were too much for the Panthers, resulting in a 30-21 loss.
The first quarter ended with no score, though Jeanerette came close when it reached Berwick’s 12-yard line before turning the ball over on downs.
Berwick’s first scoring drive was set up by a 66-yard run by Jeremy Boudreaux on a fake punt. Braden Billiot then scored on a 9-yard touchdown run with 10:25 left in the second quarter.
Boudreaux, who plays quarterback, was injured during the game, Berwick head coach Craig Brodie said. Billiot led the Panthers at quarterback for most of the final three quarters and had 163 yards rushing and a touchdown.
Jeanerette responded quickly to Berwick’s first touchdown, scoring on a 50-yard run by quarterback Tyrese Batiste with 8:52 remaining in the second quarter. Both teams waited until the final minute of the first half to get in the end zone again.
Berwick’s Zachary Dupuy ran the ball six yards for a touchdown with 29 seconds remaining until halftime. Jeanerette answered Berwick’s touchdown for a second time, this time on a 45-yard pass from Batiste to Paul Richard with just three seconds until the half to bring the score to 14-14 at halftime.
After each team turned the ball over on downs to start the third quarter, Berwick took advantage of a Jeanerette fumble, which Darrin Robicheaux returned 12 yards for a touchdown with 2:24 to play in the third quarter to give the Panthers a 21-14 lead.
The fourth quarter belonged to Jeanerette, though, as running back Darien Kiel had touchdown runs of 29 yards and one yard.
Berwick turned the ball over on downs and lost a fumble on its only two possessions of the fourth quarter.
Billiot had not practiced all week due to an injury during Berwick’s homecoming game, Brodie said. Berwick’s coach said he was proud of how Billiot filled in at quarterback, even with the limited plays the Panthers could run due to Billiot not having practiced passing much.
“We were one-dimensional after he got in there, so they were keying on him,” Brodie said. “But he still gained a bunch of yards and made some good plays.”
Berwick struggled to tackle the Tigers, especially Kiel, Brodie said. Jeanerette rushed for 383 yards Friday.
The Panthers played eight sophomores, two juniors and a freshman on defense.
“That’s awfully young to play a varsity game,” Brodie said. “It’s going to help us down the road.”
However, the Panthers’ senior starters have been depleted quickly with Billiot and Justin Morvant getting injured in the homecoming game. Linebacker Tre Matthews suffered a season-ending injury two weeks ago, and then Boudreaux got hurt Friday, Brodie said.
Jeanerette outplayed Berwick, was more physical than the Panthers and made fewer mistakes, Brodie said. Brodie coached Jeanerette coach Ananias Johnson when Johnson was in high school, and Brodie was happy for Johnson, who he said has turned the Jeanerette football program around.
Johnson said, “Coach Brodie’s got a good team. They’re young just like us.”
Johnson said he was thankful he had four seniors that know his system to be able to lead the team.
Berwick (1-4) now has to get ready for district play, which begins Thursday when the Panthers host Franklin.
Jeanerette (2-3) will have a tough game next week when it travels to face Catholic High of New Iberia, Johnson said.

Berwick
Box Score
BHS JHS First downs: 15 15
Rushing yards: 243 383
Passing yards: 26 72
Total yards: 269 455
A-C-HI: 10-1-1 14-3-0
Penalty-yards: 8-55 15-127
Score by Quarters
BHS: 0 14 7 0 21
JHS: 0 14 0 16 30

Scoring Summary
2nd Quarter
BHS: Braden Billiot 9-yard run (Rogelio Rodriguez kick) 10:25

JHS: Tyrese Batiste 50-yard run (run failed) 8:52

BHS: Zachary Dupuy 6-yard run (Rodriguez kick) 0:29

JHS: Paul Richard 45-yard pass from Batiste (Darien Kiel run) 0:03

Third Quarter
BHS: Darrin Robicheaux 12-yard fumble return (Rodriguez kick) 2:24

Fourth Quarter
JHS: Kiel 29-yard run (Kiel run) 11:49

JHS: Kiel 1-yard run (Kiel run) 2:59

BHS Individual Stats Passing
Braden Billiot 1-7-1 26 yds., Jeremy Boudreaux 0-3-0 0 yds.

Receiving
Audwin Williams 1-26

Rushing
Braden Billiot 27-163 TD, Jeremy Boudreaux 7-61, Zachary Dupuy 4-24 TD, Marquis Rogers 2-(-5)