CCHS to host Westminster Christian Friday

Central Catholic will try to knock off its second’s consecutive top five seed in as many weeks when the Eagles host No. 4 Westminster Christian Academy in the quarterfinal round of the Division IV quarterfinal football playoffs Friday at Tiger Stadium in Morgan City.
A week ago, Central Catholic avenged a regular season defeat to District 7-1A foe and No. 7 seed Lafayette Christian with a 48-28 victory.
Central Catholic totaled 599 yards of offense (383 rushing and 216 passing) in the contest, and its defense forced four turnovers (four interceptions and two fumbles).
This week’s opponent, Westminster (8-3), finished tied for the District 5-1A title with Catholic High-Pointe Coupee as each finished league play with a 4-1 record.
Westminster averages 23.9 points a game and surrenders 12.5 a contest.
Westminster also knocked off a district rival a week ago as the squad defeated No. 13 seed False River Academy, 27-0.
“They’re a team that very much likes to run the football,” Central Catholic Coach Tommy Minton said. “They play power football. (They have) very good size on the offensive line. Good size backs, and they like to come straight at you.”
Minton said when Westminster passes, it likes to do it off of play-action.
“We’ll have to get ready for a physical game up front,” Central Catholic’s coach said.
Defensively, Minton said Westminster used a 3-3 stack look and plays a lot of zone behind it.
He said they have “two really big, physical linebackers,” Ken Jones and Zach Thomas. Minton said Jones weighs about 225 pounds, while Thomas is about 210 pounds.
Central Catholic will enter Friday’s contest with a different face at quarterback as sophomore DeDe Gant will start in place of senior Blake Byrne after Byrne was injured last week.
Senior Samarick Paul and Gant both saw time at quarterback a week ago.
A week ago, Paul accounted for 339 yards and four touchdowns on offense and added kick returns for nearly 100 more yards.
This season he has rushed 15 times for 214 yards and two touchdowns, has completed 2 of 3 passes for 100 yards and a touchdown and has hauled in 36 catches for 672 yards and eight touchdowns.
Gant has completed 4 of 10 passes this season for 86 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions.
“DeDe’s ready for this,” Minton said. “He started all year in the secondary, and he’s basically a good athlete, a good football player, and he’ll step in and do his job.”
Minton said the Eagles also will utilize Paul in a wildcat look this week.
Byrne was 4 of 5 passing for 71 yards and a score last week before leaving the game with Central Catholic ahead 14-0. This season, Byrne has completed 63 of 120 passes for 1,138 yards with 12 touchdowns and five interceptions. He also has rushed 48 times for 179 yards and three scores.
“It’s a shame,” Minton said of Byrne’s injury. “He’s a senior (and) has been a great leader for us for three years, and I’m hoping that we can get him back next week if we can extend this season another week.”
He said Byrne was having a good year at quarterback for the Eagles.
Junior Chris Singleton leads the Central Catholic ground game with 174 carries for 1,118 yards and 21 touchdowns.
Teammate and senior Bailey Badeaux has contributed 118 carries for 766 yards and 10 scores.
Central Catholic is averaging 36.9 points a game. The Eagles have scored 40-plus points the past four weeks.
Defensively, the Eagles are surrendering 23.3 points a contest.