'Jacks, Bobcats to meet in battle of 8-3A's top teams

District 8-3A teams Patterson and Erath, both unbeaten, will clash Friday at the Sugar Dome with first-place on the line.
Patterson (5-2, 3-0) took a big step toward the district championship with an emphatic 40-14 win against long-time rival E.D. White in Thibodaux last week.
Dual-threat senior D.J. Jones had three rushing touchdowns and a scoring reception to lead the Lumberjacks. Patterson rolled up 336 yards of total offense (155 yards rushing and 181 yards passing). Quarterback Sirbatian Charles was efficient, completing 10 of 13 passes for 181 yards and two touchdowns. He has completed 81 of 123 passes for 1,264 yards with 16 TDs and three interceptions this season. Charles has completed 65.9 percent of his passes.
“Offensively, we did a good (job) but not a great job,” Patterson Coach Chad Blanchard said of last week’s game. “I thought D.J. (Jones) and Mykel (Jones) had great games and our offensive line played pretty well, but we still have some things to clean up.”
Mykel Jones, a national recruit, playing in just his third game of the season because of injury, had four catches for 76 yards and a touchdown. He has 10 catches for 170 yards and four touchdowns this season. He is averaging 17 yards per catch.
D.J. Jones had 13 carries for 86 yards, three touchdowns and four catches for 68 yards and a score Friday. He’s rushed for 286 yards and five touchdowns, and caught 21 balls for 279 yards and three scores, not to mention his special teams’ contributions.
Patterson took a 20-7 halftime lead en route to the win.
Erath (5-2, 3-0) beat South Plaquemines 44-30 in non-district play last week. The Bobcats run a split-back veer that features standout running backs Elijah Mitchell and Scott Moore.
“They’re big upfront, and both backs are good runners,” Blanchard said. “The quarterback also does a good job of managing the offense, which is what they need him to do.”
Mitchell has rushed for 1,158 yards with 21 touchdowns (18 rushing). It’s the third year in a row that Mitchell, a junior, has rushed for 1,000 yards.
Moore, a senior, has carried 71 times for 689 yards with eight touchdowns. He’s averaging 10 yards per carry, while Mitchell averages 11 yards per tote.
Quarterback Ben Leblanc has completed 25 of 69 passes for 250 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions, while he’s carried 46 times for 308 yards and two scores.
Patterson’s defense, however, has been stingy, allowing just 257.3 yards per game.
“I think we played our most complete game of the season, defensively, last week,” Blanchard said. “We’re improving against the run, and that’s big because you have to able to stop the run before you can do anything else.”
On top of its second big district game in a row, Patterson also celebrates homecoming Friday.
“Any coach that tells you he doesn’t worry a little bit more during homecoming week is pulling your leg,” Blanchard said. “There are so many distractions, but the best thing to do is get your work done early and allow them to have a good time. We’ve had a good week of practice.”
Friday’s kickoff is set for 7 p.m.