CCHS looks to defeat Ascension Episcopal in rematch

Central Catholic enters its Division IV semifinals contest looking to advance to the state finals for the first time since 1997 when the squad finished as Class 1A runner-up to Kentwood.
To do so, the Eagles will have to knock off an Ascension Episcopal that hasn’t lost a game since last year’s Division IV semifinal contest with eventual state runner-up St. Mary’s.
Since then, the Blue Gators have won 12 straight, scoring no less than 34 points in each of their 12 games.
One of those contests was to Central Catholic in Week 10 of this season when the two teams met in a District 7-1A title matchup.
While the Eagles fell to the Blue Gators, they came the closest to knocking them off, falling 42-41, after a failed two-point conversion and subsequent onside kick recovery was unsuccessful within the last two minutes of the ball game.
Since then, the teams have beaten their first two playoff opponents to set up Friday’s contest.
Central Catholic, Division IV’s No. 12 seed, has knocked off No. 5 seed Lafayette Christian, 48-28, and No. 4 seed Westminster Christian, 42-27, on its road to the semifinals.
Ascension Episcopal’s path has included wins against No. 16 Highland Baptist, 45-7, and No. 8 St. Frederick, 58-35.
“They really really have some good skill guys,” Central Catholic coach Tommy Minton said of the Blue Gators. “The quarterback, three receivers and the running are all excellent players. They’re still executing really, really well like they were week 10 when we saw them.”
The Blue Gators are averaging 45.8 points a contest and surrendering just 19.8 points a game.
The squad is led by dual-threat quarterback Jake Vascocu, wide receivers Ronald LeBlanc and Zach Ronquillo and running back Leo Franques.
In the first meeting, Vascocu had a hand in five of the Blue Gators’ six touchdowns. He rushed for three scores and threw one each to Ronquillo and Seth Kerkstetter.
Franques scored the game’s other touchdown for Ascension Episcopal.
Central Catholic’s scores came via a Ja’len Johnson kickoff return to begin the game, two touchdown passes from quarterback Blake Byrne to Samarick Paul, a Bailey Badeaux touchdown and two more scores by Chris Singleton.
In the first meeting between the two teams, Minton said his squad gave themselves opportunities on offense by securing turnovers early in the game.
“We took a lead, and then I think what hurt us is we kind of went stale on offense throughout the second quarter and allowed them to come back,” Minton said. “We got a (14-0) lead at one point, and we go into the half 21-all. That little period there in the second quarter when we went stale on offense hurt us. We can’t do that. We got to make our possessions count. Every one of them, because they’re a good offense. They’re going to score some points.”
Defensively, Minton said he thinks his team can force some fumbles, and if it pressures Vascocu, the Eagles defense can force an interception or two.
“We got to be able to do those things and capitalize on them when we get them,” he said.
While Byrne will not be available on offense after an injury sidelined him during the Lafayette Christian game and last week against Westminster Christian Academy, Minton said Byrne would play at defensive back this week.
“He’s going to be able play some defensive back and help us there, which is critical with (them) being a spread team, we could use all the cover guys we can get,” Minton said.
DeDe Gant and Samarick Paul have filled in on offense at quarterback during the last two games.
Minton said he thought both did a good job and took care of the football during their win against Westminster Christian.
“We had one turnover, which was a fumble, but I thought, overall, we took care of the football,” Minton said. “We did a good job of moving the football, and I think both of those guys, when they were in there, did a good job.”
The Eagles enter Friday’s game averaging 37.3 points and game, while its defense is surrendering 23.6 points a game.
The Eagles are led offensively by Singleton and Badeaux, Gant and Paul.
Singleton has rushed 193 times for 1,288 yards and 24 touchdowns, while Badeaux has carried the ball 128 times for 840 yards and 11 touchdowns.
Gant has completed 7 of 15 passes for 149 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions.
Paul has rushed 19 times for 254 yards (13.4 yards a carry) and two touchdowns. He has completed 3 of 5 passes for 145 yards and two touchdowns, and he has hauled in 38 passes for 725 yards and eight touchdowns.