Tigers look to match best start since 2007

Morgan City High School will be looking to match its best start since 2007 when the Tigers travel to face Westminster Christian Friday in Opelousas.
The Tigers enter Friday’s contest 4-0 after routing Cohen 70-6 a week ago.
“That was our goal coming in, to at least have a winning season,” Morgan City coach Scott Tregle said. “I’m not looking past this game at all because … they’re a good team and hopefully we can win this game and it can carry us into district and we can win some more games.
“We’re not going to be satisfied with just matching what they did in 2007, because these kids, they’ve been working super, super hard and they’re motivated,” Tregle said.
The coach said his players are not satisfied with four wins, and they want more. He said the squad is talking playoffs, and he tells them to keep being patient and doing what they have been doing.
“We’re going to eventually progress to that (playoffs), hopefully this year,” he said. “If not this year, hopefully next year.”
Tregle noted that if the playoffs started Friday, they are in.
“Yeah, it’s a lot to play for,” he said. “Not only matching 2007 but at least keeping our power rankings up to where we get in district (and) we win a couple more games, we (are) definitely in the playoffs. That would be a big thing.”
In last week’s game, the Tigers rolled up 331 yards of offense, including 283 passing.
The Tigers got seven rushing touchdowns from four different players as Malik Phillips, Kedrick Scott, Trey Derouen and Clifton Escort all reached the end zone. Phillips had 5 carries for 89 yards and 2 touchdowns, Scott contributed 12 carries for 83 yards and 3 touchdowns, Derouen had 4 carries for 77 yards and 1 touchdown, and Escort had 2 carries for 8 yards and 1 touchdown.
Meanwhile, a week ago, quarterback Abram Hartley completed 3-of-7 passes for 48 yards and 1 touchdown, a 28-yard pass to Ethan Scioneaux. Scioneaux led the squad with 2 catches for 28 yards.
Morgan City got two defensive touchdown scores from sophomore Gage Gros, too, as he recovered a fumble in the end zone and he returned another 5 yards for a touchdown.
The Tigers also recorded a safety.
This season, the Tigers have a balanced running attack. Phillips leads the squad with 32 carries for 271 yards and 5 touchdowns, while Scott has 52 carries for 231 yards and 3 touchdowns. Scioneaux also has contributed 24 carries for 226 yards and 3 touchdowns.
Meanwhile, Hartley has completed 9-of-27 passes for 159 yards and 3 touchdowns this season.
Makye Richard leads the team in receiving with 4 catches for 71 yards and 2 touchdowns.
Morgan City’s opponent this week, Westminster, is 3-1 this season with its lone loss coming in Week 3 with a 41-20 defeat to Dunham.
A week ago, Westminster defeated Ascension Christian, 40-20.
Tregle said Westminster is a well-coached team.
He said the Crusaders run the I-formation on offense, while on defense, they line up in a 3-3 stack.
“They’re real aggressive on defense,” Tregle said. “They bring a lot of pressure, which won’t really hurt us. We’re not a drop-back passing team.”
He said if Morgan City can handle blitzes on passing plays and can secure the gaps on running plays, they should be able to handle Westminster’s defensive attack.
Still, the team will present Morgan City one of its toughest challenges to date this season.
“They are probably one of the best teams we’ve played so far this year. … They’re playing good football,” Tregle said.
Friday’s game will begin at 7 p.m.