Erath runs to 55-36 win over Berwick

ERATH -- Erath High School’s rushing attack was too much for Berwick to overcome as the Bobcats churned out more than 600 yards en route to a 55-36 victory in District 8-3A action Friday.
The Bobcats’ ground game was led by one of the state’s leading rushers, Elijah Michell, who totaled 336 yards on 31 carries with six touchdowns. Two other Bobcats, quarterback Mason Granger (12 carries for 125 yards and a touchdown) and Coy LeBlanc (16 carries for 122 yards and one score) also topped 100 yards for the Bobcats Friday.
As a team, Erath had 604 yards rushing and 617 total yards.
Berwick trailed 35-12 at halftime, recording its two first-half scores in the second half via a Toby Everage 87-yard kickoff return and a Josh Jones 58-yard reception from Mitchell Sanford.
In the second half, however, Berwick’s offense began to heat up as the squad scored touchdowns on four of its six possessions after scoring on just 1 of 5 first-half offensive possessions.
However, Mitchell and Erath were too much to overcome.
“I want to give all the credit to their coach and that staff,” Erath Coach David Comeaux said of Berwick. “They played a great game. As far as I’m concerned, we were fortunate, because on two-point conversions, they left 10 points off the board (due to unsuccessful attempts), and that could have been the difference in the game right there. They just kept coming and coming and coming. … We had our hands full. We’d have to match their scores, so I’m proud of my kids. I’m proud of that offense for responding, but, like I said, that was a tough win.”
In the loss, Berwick put up 476 yards of offense (402 passing and 74 rushing).
Sanford completed 15 of 22 passes for 377 yards with three touchdowns and one interception.
Berwick had two 100-yard receivers. Josh Carver had eight catches for 136 yards, while Kenan Jones had six catches for 108 yards and one score.
“Coming into this game, I knew we were playing a powerhouse team,” Berwick head coach Eric Holden said. “Erath has great tradition. Coach Comeaux does a spectacular job here. …. In regard to changing the culture and turning a program around, this is one of those games where you can’t wait to bring your kids into this environment, so they can see what champions look like, and you always hope for the best that your kids will come out and perform above and beyond their own natural ability.
“Our kids came out here (and) they never quit,” Holden added. “We fought and fought. Erath is just a powerful team. That back (Mitchell) is incredible, … and we’ve got a lot of lessons that we’re going to learn from this.”
While Erath scored a touchdown on its first offensive drive when Mitchell slipped a tackle attempt in the backfield and scored on a 14-yard run with 9:18 remaining in the first quarter, neither team could score the remainder of the first quarter.
However, Erath began a drive in the first quarter that extended into the second where it was capped by a Granger 10-yard run.
A key play in the drive was when Granger completed a 13-yard pass to Brenn Faulk on fourth-and-12 from the Berwick 32. The pass was the only completion for Granger Friday as he finished 1 of 10 through the air with an interception recorded by D.J. Robicheaux.
Berwick struggled in the first half to get much going as the Panthers had just four first downs and 119 yards of offense.
After stopping Berwick on a fourth-down-and-two situation near the Erath 40 yard line, the Bobcats capitalized as Mitchell finished a drive with a 21-yard run. The extra point by Dylan Floris, who was seven of eight on attempts, was good for a 21-0 Erath lead.
Berwick got on the scoreboard on the ensuing kickoff as Everage returned the kick 87 yards for a score.
The Panthers, who were 0-for-6 on two-point conversion attempts, missed the first one and trailed 21-6.
Erath added two more first-half scores, the first when Mitchell broke through the defense for a 74-yard touchdown run with 5:02 remaining in the first half and another on a 4-yard run by Mitchell set up after Kenan Jones fumbled near the Erath 45.
Berwick received the ball to start the third quarter and moved 73 yards in six plays before Sanford capped the drive with a 1-yard touchdown run with 10:44 remaining in the third quarter to cut the Erath lead to 35-18.
Erath countered with a 2-yard run by Mitchell on the ensuing drive for a 42-18 Bobcat lead.
Later in the quarter, Berwick again cut its deficit to 42-24 on a 41-yard pass from Sanford to Everage with 2:11 remaining, but Erath came back two offensive plays later when Mitchell broke a 55-yard run for a 48-24 lead with 1:15 left in the third.
Berwick scored with 46.2 seconds remaining in the third quarter via a 12-yard pass from Sanford to Kenan Jones, while Erath countered with 9:15 remaining in the fourth on Coy LeBlanc’s 5-yard run for a 56-30 lead.
The Panthers scored the game’s final touchdown on a Josh Jones 1-yard run with 7:53 remaining.
“I truly don’t believe you lose even when the scoreboard doesn’t go your way, because you have an opportunity to learn so much and get better, and we’re at the early stages of this turnaround. ... I’m still excited,” Holden said. “My guys played great. We put 36 points up on the board. Nobody ever quit. No one likes to lose, but I know for a young team that I have, we’re still going in the right direction.”
Berwick will continue District 8-3A action Thursday when it hosts Patterson. Patterson comes into the contest with an 0-5 mark after falling to Kaplan, 45-20, in other District 8-3A action Friday.