CCHS, VC to meet in top 3 showdown

Rivals Central Catholic and Vermilion Catholic will square off in a top 3 matchup, in terms of power rankings, when Central Catholic travels to Abbeville Friday night to take on Vermilion Catholic.
Central Catholic enters the game ranked No. 1 in the latest, unofficial power rankings for Division IV (Class 1A select), while Vermilion Catholic, the defending Division IV state champion, is ranked No. 3.
Vermilion Catholic also is ranked No. 6 in the latest Louisiana Sportswriters Association Class 1A poll.
Both teams enter Friday’s contest 3-1 overall and 1-0 after scoring wins in their District 7-1A openers.
Vermilion Catholic is led by first-year quarterback Hunter Frith as well as wide receiver Tyler DeRouen.
Frith is ranked 13th among the state’s passers after completing 64 of 114 passes this season for 922 yards and eight touchdowns.
“The quarterback, the Frith kid, is throwing the ball well for them,” Central Catholic coach Tommy Minton said.
DeRouen is the state’s No. 2 receiver, according to this morning’s rankings, having caught 24 passes for 546 yards and five touchdowns.
In last Friday’s victory against Lafayette Christian, Frith hit DeRouen for an 87-yard touchdown pass.
DeRouen finished the first half a week ago with five receptions for 149 yards and three scores and also tossed a touchdown pass.
Frith, who completed his first five passes of the ball game, finished 13 of 20 for 228 yards and four scores.
In addition to DeRouen, Frith also connected with William Noegel for a 22-yard scoring strike.
The Eagles also had touchdowns via a 39-yard interception return for a touchdown by Donnie Comeaux as well as a 91-yard kickoff return for a touchdown by Emile Trahan.
Minton said the Eagles have to contain the Vermilion Catholic offense, which he described as “explosive.”
While the Vermilion Catholic defense is younger than the offense due to graduating seniors from last year’s title team, the team is aggressive and runs to the ball well in its 3-4 scheme, Minton said.
“They’re very much a team effort,” Minton said of what he’s seen of Vermilion Catholic’s defense.
Frith also plays defense for the Screaming Eagles at linebacker.
Meanwhile, in Thursday’s win against Highland Baptist, Central Catholic’s Stefano Guarisco, who was not at full strength, played the second half on offense and helped lift the Eagles to a come-from-behind win against the Bears with 120 yards on just nine carries with three touchdowns in the second half.
Guarisco helped the Eagles rally from a 26-14 deficit for an eventual 48-26 victory.
For the season, Guarisco has totaled 82 carries for 466 yards and 10 touchdowns. He also has caught eight passes for 169 yards and two touchdowns. The totals are tops among Central Catholic rushers and receivers.
Despite his solid performance Thursday, Guarisco wasn’t even the Eagles’ leading rusher. That title belonged to freshman running back Chris Singleton, making his first start for the Eagles in place of the injured Guarisco. Singleton rushed 14 times for 127 yards and a score.
Asked what Singleton’s role would be in the offense after his breakout performance, Minton said, “Chris is going to play. We feel like we’re fully healthy this week, and that’s going to help us.”
Minton said he is pleased with the Eagles’ ability to throw the football. That will allow the Eagles to be more balanced.
Through the air, Central Catholic quarterback Blake Byrne completed 9 of 17 passes for 170 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions.
Samarick Paul hauled one of Byrne’s touchdown passes while totaling three receptions for 62 yards. Jalen Johnson had the other score and totaled two catches for 58 yards.
This season, Byrne has completed 42 of 89 passes for 591 yards with five touchdowns and seven interceptions.
Paul has caught 12 passes for 148 yards and a score, while Johnson has nine receptions for 146 yards and a touchdown.
Additional reporting by www.theadvocate.com/sports and www.theadvertiser.com/sports.