CCHS to host VC in key district contest

Central Catholic coach Tommy Minton knows the recent lack of success his team has had with district rival Vermilion Catholic.
He also knows that they have one of two options heading into tonight’s key District 7-1A contest with the Screaming Eagles from Abbeville.
“One of the things we stressed to the kids coming in is you take your past experiences and you either run and hide from them or you learn from them and use it to motivate yourself, and hopefully we’re going to do the latter and learn from it and use it to motivate ourselves to perform at a very high level this week,” Minton said Wednesday. “When you play a game of this caliber, to me, it’s why you get involved in athletics. It’s why you coach. It’s why you compete. It’s a very evenly matched up football game, and I feel like it makes you take your ability to the next level, and to me that’s fun.”
Vermilion Catholic (4-2 overall, 2-1 in district) has won five straight district games against the Eagles — every regular season matchup from 2011 through 2014 as well as a 2013 meeting in the Division IV playoffs en route to Vermilion Catholic’s march to the inaugural Division IV state crown.
The Screaming Eagles have dominated their district for the past 4½ years, running off a 25-game winning streak.
However, that win streak was snapped a week ago as Ascension Episcopal forced a late turnover and converted it into a touchdown before jumping ahead for good on a two-point conversion.
Central Catholic (6-0, 3-0) and Vermilion Catholic come into today’s game with similar rankings.
The Eagles are tied with Ascension Episcopal for the top spot in the Class 1A power rankings, while Vermilion Catholic is No. 3.
Additionally, Central Catholic is ranked No. 6 in the latest Louisiana Sports Writers Association Class 1A poll, while Vermilion Catholic is No. 7.
Vermilion Catholic comes into this week’s contest with plenty of firepower via their passing game.
Senior quarterback Hunter Frith is the state’s leading passer in all classes as he has completed 107 of 188 passes for 1,882 yards with 21 touchdowns and six interceptions.
He has a four-headed monster of wide receivers to throw to, led by senior Tyler Derouen, who has caught 33 passes for 669 yards and five touchdowns. His receiving yards ranked third among all classes.
Fellow senior Emile Trahan has 19 receptions for 416 yards and five scores, while senior Payton Trahan has 27 receptions for 334 yards and three touchdowns.
Sophomore Devren Constantine has 20 receptions for 352 yards and eight touchdowns.
“You’re not trying to shut down one marquee receiver,” Minton said. “They got four guys that can go get the ball. They all run good routes. (They) all have big-play potential,”
Minton said his defense will have to mix up things up against the Screaming Eagles to keep them guessing.
However, one thing that is certain: the Eagles will be trying to apply pressure on Frith.
“It’s always been my philosophy, as long as I’ve been coaching, when you face a good passing offense, you want to attack the quarterback,” Minton said. “You want to get hits on the quarterback, and a lot of times in high school, if you can put that quarterback under duress and put him under pressure, he’ll make some mistakes.”
Vermilion Catholic’s run game is led by freshman Kalix Broussard, who has rushed 56 times for 350 yards and three touchdowns, while Derouen adds 34 carries for 201 yards and four touchdowns.
Meanwhile Central Catholic will counter with standout Stefano Guarisco, who is fourth in the state in rushing in all classes this season with 144 carries for 1,356 yards and 20 touchdowns.
He also is first in scoring among athletes in all classes with 192 total points — 26 total touchdowns and 18 two-point conversions.
During the last two years, the Eagles have struggled to get Guarisco going in the run game against the Screaming Eagles.
Minton is confident with a young offensive line that started a year ago that now has a year of experience on the field and in the weight room they can get the run game moving this year.
“We get him going because we’re better up front,” Minton said. “Last year we started four sophomores in that game on the offensive line. Well, now those sophomores are juniors, (they have) a lot more experience, and (are) a lot more physical with a year in the weight room under their belt, and I feel like we do a better job up front, give him a chance to get going and then he’ll make plays with his legs.”
Central Catholic quarterback Blake Byrne has completed 29 of 49 passes for 611 yards with eight touchdowns and three interceptions.
Greg Leger leads the Eagles’ receivers with 10 receptions for 329 yards and three scores, while Guarisco has 10 catches for 259 yards and four touchdowns.
Today’s game will begin at 7 p.m.
Additional reporting by www.vermiliontoday.com and www.theadvocate.com/sports.