Eunice overcomes injuries in 5-0 start

The quest to stay unbeaten has included a pair of adjustments for Eunice High School.

While Bobcats quarterback Trenon Trosclair recovers from an ankle injury, Jake Sonnier has stepped in to take his share of snaps. Darius Richard has kept the ground game going by churning out 497 yards and 10 touchdowns.

“We have had some injury issues and have been spotty on offense,” Eunice coach Paul Trosclair said. “Our quarterback (Trenon Trosclair) has had to go out of the shotgun. We had to make some changes. An injury is an opportunity for someone else. Jake Sonnier showed he could play. Darius Richard has stepped up to be the leading rusher.”

When the second-ranked Bobcats (5-0) travel to Prairie Ronde to take on another unbeaten team, Northwest (5-0) on Friday, Eunice will face an offense paced by running back Sadrian Jackson.

“Northwest covers the whole field on offense,” Paul Trosclair said. “It will be a challenge for our defense. We cannot let the running back (Jackson) dominate the game. We have to tackle well in the open field and be good on the basics. We have been good about not giving up easy or big plays.”

Four-down territory

When St. Thomas More needed a spark against Barbe on Friday, Cougars coach Jim Hightower counted on a consistent strategy: He gave his Cougars four chances to make a play.

St. Thomas More (2-3) benefited from a fake field goal that resulted in a touchdown by receiver Seth Kelley and a fake punt that the Cougars pulled off at their 26-yard line.

“There’s no doubt about it that something like a fake punt gives you a boost,” Hightower said.

The Cougars also recovered an onside kick to help overcome a 1-3 start, which included a three-point loss to Evangel and seven-point losses to Sulphur and Central.

“The team as a whole has had the right attitude,” Hightower said. “It’s not any one guy, but collectively as a group, we have kept working.”

The Cougars’ workload this week will consist of a showdown with Teurlings Catholic (5-0 and ranked No. 2 in Class 4A) at Rebel Stadium Friday night.

Teurlings quarterback Conner Cronin has completed 61-of-96 passes for 722 yards with seven touchdowns and two interceptions.

“They (the Rebels) have eight or nine starters back on defense,” Hightower said. We have played a lot of teams, too, that can score so quickly and put the ball up. Hopefully, we can play hard and play smart.”

By ground or air

When Acadiana (4-1 and No. 3 in Class 5A) travels to face Barbe (4-1 and No. 4 in 5A) on Friday, the meeting of District 3-5A opponents will feature a Wreckin’ Rams ground attack that produced a trio of 100-yard rushers in a win over Sulphur on Friday. Edward Cormier (198 yards), Shane Francis (189) and Cardaye Spencer (108) all topped the mark.

Meanwhile, Barbe’s lowest point output this season was 29 in a Week 1 win over LaGrange. Barbe quarterback Kenon Fontenot threw for 412 yards and three TDs in the Bucs’ loss to St. Thomas More last week. Fontenot also passed for more than 400 yards in a game with Evangel earlier in the season.