Morgan City to open district play against Ellender

By GEOFF STOUTE
gstoute@daily-review.com
Injuries have been a big problem for the Morgan City High School Tigers this year.
Their opponent this week, the Ellender Memorial Patriots, can relate.
While Morgan City (0-6) missed several players a week ago, including Jaylen Jones, who has been sideline for the past three weeks, and Darryl Johnson and Kevon Marsh both last week, the Patriots have had their fair share of injuries too.
Most recently, quarterback Dustin Creppel was injured in the team’s contest with Assumption, and Ellender coach Terry Washington told The Tri-Parish Times and Business News for this week’s paper that Creppel probably would have to sit for “a few games.”
Creppel has passed for 989 yards and 16 touchdowns this season with just one interception.
If Creppel cannot start, the Patriots are expected to turn to sophomore Curtis Anderson.
During the season, the Patriots also have played without offensive threat Kevin Lucien, who was injured during the preseason scrimmage against Central Catholic, and the Patriots haven’t had the services of Thomas Johnson and Jarred Turner at times this season.
Washington told the Tri-Parish Times that hopefully the team could get a few of its weapons back soon.
While the Patriots have been battered, they do have two weapons in Justin Johnson and Dan Mitchell.
Johnson has rushed for 705 yards and scored eight touchdowns this season, while Mitchell has 401 receiving yards and five scores.
Lorio said the Patriots like to get the ball to Mitchell in different ways, while Johnson is a must for defense to stop because if not, the Patriots would keep feeding him the ball.
As for the Tigers, Lorio said Jones could see action at defensive back and wide receiver during Friday’s homecoming game after practicing this week, while Marsh is expected back as well as Johnson, who Lorio said still isn’t 100 percent.
Last week Morgan City’s run game struggled without Marsh as they were limited to 42 carries for minus 8 yards and 11 yards of total offense.
Marsh leads the Tigers’ ground game with 75 carries for 265 yards and two scores, while freshman quarterback Hector Tolento, who has started for the Tigers after Jones was injured in the Tigers’ win against West St. Mary in Week 3, has completed 9-of-20 passes for 51 yards with two interceptions.
Buddy Humphrey leads the Morgan City receivers with 10 catches for 81 yards.
Lorio said keeping the ball away from Ellender as well as generating some points are things Morgan City must do this week.
While the Tigers will get some of their players back this week, they will be without Arnette Brashear and Dakota McCloy after both were injured in last week’s 36-0 loss to Rayne, Lorio said.
Friday’s game will begin at 7 p.m. at Tiger Stadium.
Additional reporting by The Tri-Parish Times and Business News and www.bayoupreps.com.