Ascension Episcopal edges CCHS, 42-41, for outright district crown

In a game filled with highlights and momentum swings, Central Catholic was dealt a heartbreaker as it fell just short to Ascension Episcopal, 42-41, in a Week 10 showdown for the District 7-1A title Friday.
After Central Catholic rallied from a 35-21 deficit late in the third quarter to tie the game at 35 with 10:03 remaining in the fourth period, the Eagles again rallied after Ascension Episcopal retook the lead at 42-35. Chris Singleton’s 3-yard run with 1:30 remaining in the fourth cut the Ascension Episcopal lead to 42-41.
Instead of going for a tie, the Eagles elected to go for the win with a two-point conversion, but Singleton was stopped short of the goal line.
That meant the Eagles’ had to attempt an onside kick to quickly get the ball back to have a shot at a victory.
The Eagles pursued placekicker Drake Angeron’s kick downfield and came up celebrating from the pile of players thinking they retained possession.
However, after a discussion, the referees ruled the ball belonged to Ascension Episcopal, and the home team ran out the clock for their first win against the Eagles in school history and the outright District 7-1A title.
The game began with action from the start as Central Catholic’s Ja’len Johnson fielded the opening kickoff at the Central Catholic 8 and returned it 92 yards for a touchdown. Angeron’s extra point was good for a 7-0 Central Catholic lead just 13 seconds into the contest.
While Central Catholic was held without a first down on its opening drive, Ascension Episcopal muffed the punt recovery and Central Catholic recovered at the Ascension Episcopal’s 44.
The Eagles cashed in on six plays later when quarterback Blake Byrne connected with Samarick Paul for a 34-yard touchdown reception. Angeron’s extra point was good for a 14-0 Central Catholic lead with 3:46 remaining in the first quarter.
Ascension Episcopal got on the board early in the second quarter when quarterback Jake Vascocu broke off a 54-yard run for a score. The point-after attempt by Taylor Doss, who was a perfect 6-for-6, was good to cut the Central Catholic lead to 14-7 with 11:50 remaining in the second quarter.
Vascocu added another touchdown on a 1-yard run with 4:11 remaining in the first half to tie the score at 14.
While Central Catholic retook the lead at 21-14 with a 1:15 remaining when Byrne connected with Paul on a 37-yard completion, the Blue Gators needed just three plays to respond after a short kick as Vascocu connected with Ronald LeBlanc on a 29-yard completion before Vascocu scored his third rushing touchdown of the first half, this time from 15 yards out, to tie the game at 21 with 44 seconds remaining in the half.
Ascension Episcopal scored on its first two drives of the third quarter. The Blue Gators, who received the ball to open the second half, reached the end zone on a Leo Franques 22-yard run with 9:38 remaining in the third quarter and again on a 32-yard pass from Vascocu to Zach Ronquillo with 7:33 remaining. The second score was set up after the Blue Gators recovered a Singleton fumble at the Central Catholic 30.
While Central Catholic was forced to punt on its next drive, the Eagles got a break on the ensuing Blue Gators’ possession as Vascocu fumbled and Central Catholic’s Kaden Scott recovered the loose football at the Ascension Episcopal 45.
Four plays later, Bailey Badeaux broke off a 34-yard run with 3:28 remaining for a touchdown. Angeron’s extra-point attempt was no good after it ricocheted off the right upright, but Central Catholic now trialed 35-27.
The Eagles got the ball back quickly on their next possession as Tyler O’con intercepted Vascocu at the Central Catholic 42. Twelve plays and 58 yards later, the drive concluded on a Singleton 1-yard run.
Badeaux converted the two-point run to tie the game at 35 with 10:03.
Ascension Episcopal came roaring back, however, as the Blue Gators moved the ball 54 yards in three plays, capped by a 31-yard touchdown pass from Vascocu to Seth Kerkstetter for a 42-35 lead with 9:11 left in the final period.