CCHS will host Lafayette Christian Thursday

The Central Catholic Eagles will continue District 7-1A action this week when they host Lafayette Christian Academy Thursday.
Central Catholic enters the game after defeating Ascension Episcopal 28-21 in Youngsville a week ago, while Lafayette Christian routed Berwick, 43-13, in Week 7.
Central Catholic coach Tommy Minton said his squad will welcome back sophomore quarterback Blake Byrne to the field after he sat out last week due to injury.
In his place, freshman Tyler O’conn and junior Stefano Guarisco filled in at quarterback. O’conn completed 5 of 6 passes for 62 yards with one interception, while Guarisco was 2 of 8 passing for 37 yards and one pick.
Byrne leads the squad in passing as he has completed 64 of 135 attempts for 944 yards with 12 touchdowns and 12 interceptions.
Also last week, Guarisco rushed 49 times for 244 yards and three touchdowns. This season, he has carried the ball 162 times for 817 yards and 14 touchdowns. He also has caught 14 passes for 251 yards and three touchdowns.
The Eagles also have utilized freshman running back Chris Singleton this season and the freshman has accounted for 200 yards and two scores on 22 carries.
Receiving, sophomore Samarick Paul leads the Eagles with 23 catches for 298 yards and five scores, while sophomore Jalen Johnson has caught 14 passes for 265 yards and three touchdowns.
Senior Matthew Barbier also has caught 14 passes for 189 yards and a score.
In last week’s win, Central Catholic struck first on an 8-yard run by Guarisco with 2:20 remaining in the first quarter.
While Ascension Episcopal tied the score with 1:01 remaining when quarterback Jake Arceneaux connected with Brennan Ducote for a 75-yard touchdown pass, the Eagles came right back when Johnson returned the ensuing kickoff 88 yards for a touchdown.
Each team scored a touchdown in the second quarter as Ducote had a four-yard touchdown run and Guarisco scored from a yard out for a 21-14 halftime lead.
While Central Catholic extended its lead to 28-14 in the third quarter on a 13-yard run by Guarisco with 7:01 remaining, Ascension Episcopal cut its deficit to 28-21 when Arceneaux hooked up with Zach Ronquillo for a 53-yard touchdown strike with 9:01 remaining.
From there, though, Central Catholic took over, draining the remaining time off the clock.
A week ago, Lafayette Christian trailed Berwick 7-0 early after Braden Billiot scored on a 23-yard run on Berwick’s opening drive of the game.
However, Lafayette Christian held Berwick out the end zone for much of the remainder of the game, reeling off 43 straight points until Berwick scored a late touchdown on another Billiot run.
During its scoring onslaught, the Knights scored touchdowns on four of their five first-half possessions en route to a 29-7 halftime lead.
The Knights were led on offense by quarterback Regan Miller and running back Jeremy Joseph. Miller rushed for two first-half touchdowns and passed for another, while Joseph scored another touchdown.
The Knights also recorded a safety.
Miller had a hand in both Lafayette Christian touchdowns in the second half, scoring on a 14-yard run in the third quarter and tossing a 7-yard touchdown pass to Bryce Badon late in the quarter.
Lafayette Christian had 432 yards of offense, including 317 rushing yards on 39 carries.
Miller was 5-of-7 passing for 115 yards and a score, while he rushed 17 times for 154 yards and three touchdowns. Joseph rushed 13 times for 124 yards and a score.
Minton said that Lafayette Christian has good skill players on offense, including Miller and Joseph.
“(Miller) is a good one. The running back is a stocky kid that runs really, really hard.”
Minton said the Knights run the zone read from the shot gun and try to get Miller on the perimeter with the football.
“We got to account for him, and we got to stop him,” Minton said. “That’s going to be very, very key.”
However, Miller has shown the ability to toss the football, too.
“He’s not one dimensional … not at all,” Minton said. “He can throw the ball well also.”
On defense, Minton said the Knights like to put players at the line of scrimmage to try to stop the run and they also play man coverage.
“I’m hoping that we’ll be able to complete some balls against the man coverage,” Minton said.
Thursday’s game will begin at 7 p.m. at Tiger Stadium.