Lumberjacks return home to face Vandebilt Catholic

Patterson hopes to avoid a slow start after falling behind for the third game in a row.
The Lumberjacks (0-3) stormed back from a 20-7 halftime deficit, before falling to Catholic High-New Iberia, 28-25, Friday.
Catholic High (3-0), now the second-ranked team in the Louisiana Sportswriters Association’s Class 2A rankings, rolled up 17 first-half first downs to Patterson’s three and outrushed the ’Jacks 179 to 48 yards.
But Patterson came out of halftime on fire.
Quarterback Sirbatian Charles began to pick up chunks of yards with the zone-read as Patterson went to its ground game. Charles carried nine times for 64 yards.
The junior has carried 32 times for 190 yards and a touchdown this season.
Through the air, he has completed 24-of-54 passes for 364 yards with five touchdowns and an interception.
Running back Tristen Ausama led Patterson’s rushers last week with 16 carries for 105 yards and a score. Ausama has 238 yards on 42 carries and three touchdowns.
“We had to find a way to keep the ball from them,” Patterson head coach Chad Blanchard said following Friday’s game. “They run the ball well against everybody, so we had to slow them down.”
Trailing 20-7 at halftime, the ’Jacks converted a 10-play, 72-yard drive into points when senior John Davis powered in from 10 yards out. But Christian Soria’s point-after attempt kick was blocked, so the ’Jacks trailed 20-13 with 7:21 left in the third quarter.
Patterson’s defense forced a punt on Catholic High’s next series, and after squib kicking all night, Catholic High punted to the ’Jacks. Alabama commit Daylon Charlot took the punt at the Patterson 20 and raced 80 yards for a touchdown. But a penalty forced the ’Jacks to attempt the 2-point conversion from the 20-yard line, which failed. Catholic High led 20-19 with 4:23 to play.
Malik Bass grabbed a Catholic High fumble to give the ball back to Patterson just before the third quarter ended.
Patterson converted two third-and-longs before Charles hit Charlot in the corner of the end zone for the ’Jacks’ first lead of game, 25-20, with 8:20 remaining.
The comeback was short-lived, however, as CHNI went on a four-play, 67-yard drive that ended with quarterback Jason Pellerin’s 18-yard run at 7:25 to regain the lead for Catholic High.
Patterson marched the ball down to Catholic High’s 23-yard line, but a fourth-down pass went awry.
“Obviously, last Friday was heart wrenching for our kids,” Blanchard said. “We had a couple long talks, and they have responded really well. We’ve had a couple really good practices this week. We have to be dialed in and focused from the start of the game.”
The ’Jacks also want to be more balanced this week against Vandebilt Catholic (0-3).
“We didn’t pass well last week because they were dropping seven people into coverage to take away our skill people,” Blanchard said. “Good teams make adjustments and get it done, so that’s what we have to learn to do.”
Vandebilt lost to St. James Friday, 36-17. St. James quarterback Lowell Narcisse rushed for 261 yards and four touchdowns.
“I think they will try to take away our outside guys, too,” Blanchard said of Vandebilt Catholic. “Our receivers are so dynamic that teams want to make us beat them on the ground. We just have to play our game, and everything will be ok.”
Vandebilt’s offense is led by running back Gage Corte with 254 yards rushing. Corte likely will be featured more this week after Vandebilt Catholic lost its starting quarterback Friday.
“We hear their backup quarterback is starting, but he’s a good athlete, too,” Blanchard said. “We just have to go out there prepared to win from the opening kickoff.”
Friday’s game will kick off at 7 p.m. at the Sugardome.
Additional reporting by www.bayoupreps.com.