CCHS looks to end two-game losing streak when it hosts LCA tonight

Central Catholic will open District 7-1A play tonight looking to snap a two-game losing streak when it hosts Lafayette Christian at 7 o’clock at Tiger Stadium in Morgan City.
The Eagles enter the contest after dropping their second straight game of the season a week ago, a 28-21 upset loss to Ascension Catholic in Donaldsonville.
The Ascension Catholic game and Central Catholic’s week 2 loss to Opelousas Catholic each were decided by seven points, and Central Catholic had a chance for a victory in both but just couldn’t pull it out.
This week, Central Catholic, 1-2, will face a Lafayette Christian team that enters with a 2-1 mark.
The Eagles enter the game ranked No. 7 in the latest Louisiana Sports Writers Association Class 1A poll, while the Knights are receiving votes.
However, in the latest Louisiana High School Athletic Association Division IV power rankings, which are used to determine playoff teams and seeding, Lafayette Christian is ranked No. 3, while Central Catholic is ranked No. 18.
The Knights are led this year by first-year coach Trev Faulk, a former LSU standout linebacker.
Central Catholic Coach Tommy Minton noted that against Ascension Episcopal in jamboree action as well as its three regular season games, Lafayette Christian has been behind and came back to win three out of the four. The lone exception was a 22-20 loss to Loreauville in Week 2.
“They’re very resilient,” Minton said Tuesday. “They play hard, and we got to go out there and we got to match their intensity and their effort.”
Lafayette Christian runs a spread offense in which Minton said they want to get their quarterback, Zack Clement, in the run game as much as possible.
“They’ve done a real good job of it,” Minton said. “He’s a real good athlete. He’s a sophomore. He started last year as a freshman the second half of the season and he runs the ball really well. He’s real shifty.”
Defensively, the Knights run a 3-3 stack look.
“They’re very aggressive,” Minton said. “They play hard.”
Central Catholic is led offensively by running back Chris Singleton, who has carried 46 times for 265 yards and six touchdowns. Teammate Bailey Badeaux has 35 carries for 173 yards and a score.
Quarterback Blake Byrne has completed 18 of 42 passes for 322 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions.
His top receiving target this year has been Greg Leger, who has caught six passes for 222 yards (37 yard average per catch) and two touchdowns.
The Eagles are averaging 295.6 yards of total offense per game this year (188.3 rushing and 107.3 passing).
Defensively, the Eagles have surrendered an average of 213.7 yards per game (151 yards rushing and 62.7 passing).