CCHS, Highland Baptist to meet Friday

Central Catholic and Highland Baptist will meet Friday in a game that will feature two of the state’s leading rushers and scorers this season.
Central Catholic (5-0) features Stefano Guarisco, who is fourth in the state in rushing with 1,063 yards on 123 carries with 16 touchdowns and is first in the state in scoring with 156 points scored via 21 touchdowns and 15 two-point conversions.
Highland Baptist (4-1) counters with Bronte Griffin, who has rushed 150 times for 1,300 yards and 20 touchdowns and has 122 points (20 touchdowns and one two-point conversion).
While each put up similar numbers, Central Catholic coach Tommy Minton said their running styles aren’t the same.
“He gets a ton of his yardage tackle-to-tackle,” Minton said of Griffin. “He’s a fullback. Stefano’s a tailback. Stefano runs between the tackles but also does a lot of damage on the outside. They don’t use this kid as much on the outside. They’re two totally different type of runners, but they’re both very effective.”
With his yardage total and the fact that Highland Baptist runs the wing T, Minton said stopping Griffin will be key to stymieing the success of the Bears’ offense.
“He’s a big kid, physical runner, and we’re going to have to wrap him up,” Minton said.
Still, even containing Griffin will mean the Eagles will surrender yards,” Minton said. It’s just where and how they limit those yards that counts, Minton said.
“He’s going to gain yards because he’s a good back, but the key thing is you want to contain that yardage and keep that yardage to a situation where it’s between the 20s (yard lines) and you keep away from the big play,” Minton said. “You don’t want him to make the big play on you.”
A week ago, Central Catholic was solid defensively against District 7-1A newcomer Centerville as the Eagles held Centerville to minus-8 yards of total offense (minus 40 rushing and 32 passing).
Central Catholic totaled 405 yards of offense in the win (249 rushing and 156 passing).
Guarisco rushed 12 times for 156 yards and three touchdowns, while Damarcus Mitchell and Blake Byrne each scored a touchdown apiece.
Through the air, Mitchell led the Eagles as he completed two of three passes for 89 yards and a touchdown, while Byrne completed two of four passes for 67 yards with a touchdown and an interception.
Guarisco led the Eagles’ receivers with one catch for 77 yards and a score, while Greg Leger added one catch for 58 yards and a touchdown.
This season, Byrne leads the Eagles’ passing game as he has completed 21 of 38 passes for 414 yards with five touchdowns and three interceptions.
Leger leads the Eagles’ receivers with seven catches for 235 yards and two touchdowns.
A week ago, Griffin rushed 32 times for 280 yards and three touchdowns against Lafayette Christian Academy.
While Highland Baptist trailed 14-6 at the half, they outscored Lafayette Christian, 31-0 in the second half for the win.
On defense, Minton said the Bears use a four-man front and almost exclusively play zone.
“(It is) kind of a bend-but-don’t-break philosophy when you look at them, and they have very good size upfront on defense,” Minton said.
Friday’s game will begin at 7 p.m.
Additional reporting by The Acadiana Advocate and www.iberianet.com.