CCHS preps for talented Southern Lab team

No. 3 Central Catholic may be the higher seed in its Division IV quarterfinal round matchup with No. 6 Southern Lab, but Central Catholic Coach Tommy Minton’s club will have a tall task in knocking off their opponents from Baton Rouge Friday.
“You’re looking at a team that’s got a great, great array of talent,” Minton said. “Offensive line averages 285 pounds across the front. Defensive line is just about as big, and you look (at) the skill athletes on defense. You got a cornerback, Jonard Robinson, who’s committed to Tulane. You got an outside linebacker that’s committed to Tulane, (Deion Rainey). You got a middle linebacker who’s a junior that’s already got scholarship offers from LSU and Alabama, Chris Allen, so it’s (a) very, very talented team.”
While Southern Lab (7-3) is a six seed, their three losses are to top-flight competition in Division II’s top seed, University Lab, Class 1A’s top seed, Kentwood, and national power IMG Academy.
Minton said it is key for his team not to be in awe of Southern Lab’s individual talent and remember that football is a team sport.
“They will do some things within the course of the game to give us opportunities, and we got to be ready to take advantage of that,” Minton said.
Rising to the occasion has been the team’s approach in practice this week, and Tuesday Minton said the week had started out well.
“The kids were very focused yesterday as we installed the game plan,” he said. “I thought it was one of the better Monday practices that we’ve had, and you know what the repercussions are at this point in the year. If you don’t show up and play your best ballgame, your season could be over, so the kids know that and they’ve taken that approach to practice.”
Offensively, Minton said the Kittens will show spread and I-formation looks.
Southern Lab, which defeated St. John of Plaquemine 49-14 during the first round of the playoffs a week ago, certainly has big-play potential as they had 10 plays totaling 15 yards or more.
“You got to limit the big play,” Minton said. “Anytime you play a team that’s got the speed at the skill positions they have, the big-play threat is there. We can hopefully limit their big-play threats by keeping the ball away from them with our ground attack. We can limit their big plays by hopefully confusing them with showing them some different looks on defense. That’s all keys to the ball game.”
Defensively, Minton said the Kittens play a 5-2 look.
“Play a lot of man coverage, man free where they’ll put a free safety in the middle of the field,” he said.
Central Catholic has big-play potential and can put up points in bunches, as well.
The Eagles have scored at least 30 points every game this season, 50 or more points six times and 60 or more points three times. Last week, they defeated No. 14 Grambling in the first round, 60-38.
The Eagles are averaging 51.5 points a game.
The squad is led by running back Stefano Guarisco who has rushed 280 times for 2,637 yards and 40 touchdowns this season. He has also caught 13 passes for 312 yards and five more touchdowns.
Quarterback Blake Byrne has completed 41 of 77 passes for 845 yards with 11 touchdowns and eight interceptions.
Greg Leger leads the team’s receivers with 11 catches for 370 yards and four scores.
Friday’s game will begin at 7 p.m.
Additional reporting by www.theadvocate.com/sports.