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Patterson High School's Jaymioun Butler, left, and Irvin Celestine close in on a Central Lafourche player during week 1 of the high school season. Patterson will travel to face Erath Friday in District 8-3A action. (The Daily Review/Shea Drake)

Patterson prepares for Erath, Mitchell

By GEOFF STOUTE, gstoute@daily-review.com

If there’s anyone that Patterson High School knows about entering Friday’s District 8-3A contest at Erath Friday, it’s the teenager in the backfield who will be getting most of the carries.
Elijah Mitchell has carved up defenses this season and through seven weeks, leads the state in rushing and scoring in all classes. Mitchell has rushed for 1,729 yards with 25 touchdowns. He averages 11.8 yards a carry.
The senior standout and University of Louisiana at Lafayette commit also has scored 164 points this season.
Fortunately for Patterson, it has gotten healthy is recent weeks and this week will return Dillan Giandelone, who coach Marvin Dantzler said was likely the team’s best defender.
“To get him back against a physical running back like (Mitchell) is going to be a plus for us, at least try to slow him down,” Dantzler said. “He’s going to have a good game. The thing is we can’t let anybody else beat us, but he’s going to be hard to stop.”
Still, Dantzler said his squad must slow down Mitchell’s offensive productivity and not let him rack up touchdowns in bunches.
Patterson has some momentum heading into its Week 8 matchup as the Lumberjacks won their first game of the season against E.D. White, 38-14 a week ago. The Lumberjacks were led by sophomore Dajon Richard, who rushed for more than 100 yards and scored three touchdowns.
“Last week I thought we had a good week, and we’ve been close,” Dantzler said. “We’ve been coming from behind the three previous games, but we’ve been dealing with injuries.”
Dantzler said having a lot of guys back for last week’s game was a difference maker.
“They healthier you get, the better chance you have of winning these football games.”
Patterson is led this season in the run game by Dontre Nicholas, who has rushed 110 times for 620 yards and three scores. Richard has rushed 66 times for 320 yards and four scores.
Through the air, Hector Tolento leads the squad with 559 passing. He has completed 37 of 80 passes with three touchdowns and one interception.
Jordan Butler is the team’s leading receiver with 25 catches for 498 yards and four scores. Richard has caught 17 passes for 227 yards and two touchdowns.
Friday’s game will begin at 7 p.m.

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