By DOUG IRELAND, Journal Sports
With two state championships and four semifinal appearances since 2020, it’s hard to find something the Calvary Baptist Cavaliers haven’t accomplished recently.
Until last week. Calvary’s 14-7 state quarterfinal victory at previously unbeaten Jewel Sumner snapped a skid of five straight losses on the road in postseason, and it was the first time this decade the Cavaliers won while scoring under 20 points.
That kind of defense and mental toughness will come in handy tonight at Gardiner Memorial Stadium in Crowley, when sixth-seeded Calvary (11-1) carries a 10-game winning streak against second-seeded Notre Dame (10-2) in a Select Division III semi.
“It was huge for us to go to a tough place against a good team last week and get a win on the road,” said Cavs’ coach Rodney Guin. “Now we try to do it again. We’ve been to Neville this year, we went to Oak Grove this year, and I think that helps us.”
He’ll take every edge he can find, anticipating a nailbiter, something he has shared with his team that has replaced 17 starters from last year’s semifinalists.
“We’ve been in four semifinal games the last five years. Every one of them has been a touchdown game, has come down to the last four minutes, and that’s what we’re expecting Friday night,” said Guin.
After containing Jewel Sumner’s explosive Wing-T running game last week, the Cavs have a similar challenge tonight.
“We tackled very well. That was the key. They were gonna run the ball, and we were able to hold them down pretty good,” said Guin.
“We’ve played the run well all year. Notre Dame is probably gonna run it 75 percent of the time, so we’re gonna have to line up and win it there.”
Led by dynamic tailback Joachim Bourgeois (1,774 yards, 23 touchdowns, 7.3 yards per carry), the Pios beat Division I quarterfinalist Southside in their opener to start a schedule with every team reaching the playoffs. They’ve lost to another Division I quarterfinalist, Teurlings Catholic (24-20), and to Lafayette Christian (41-7), the top seed in the Cavs’ playoff bracket, hosting fourth-seeded Dunham in the other semifinal tonight.
“Notre Dame is so well coached, mistake-free on both sides of the ball. They play very, very hard. They’ve got some athletes – the running back is going to be as good an athlete as will be on the field, and the quarterback (Drew LeJeune), too. But they win with just great coaching (by Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame coach Lewis Cook Jr.) and no mistakes.”
Bourgeois has been an incredible leadoff man. He has scored on the Pios’ first play an amazing six times.
“We may put 11 guys on him the first play,” said Guin. “They may score, but we’re going to try to not let HIM score.”
Leading the Cavs’ defense is returning All-State safety Luke Miller, who tops the team with 96 tackles and 10 pass breakups, along with three interceptions.
Outside linebacker Mason Gourley had 13 stops last week. Another linebacker, junior Jacob Tibbett, is a key cog while David Weeks anchors the defensive front with 13 tackles for loss.
“The whole defense has been really good and that’s what’s gotten us where we are,” said Guin.
Defense, and avoiding turnovers, will be at a premium. There’s the possibility of a soggy grass field – after dry weather for weeks, Crowley got about four inches
of rain over 36 hours Wednesday and Thursday – and the Pios’ deliberate running game.
“It’s going to be a limited possession game, like last week. We can’t turn the ball over,” said Guin. “If you only get the ball 10 times and you turn it over twice, that’s only eight chances against a really good defense.
“We’ve got to run the ball a little bit.”
Doing that will be Z’Ryan Miles, who is 50 yards shy of 1,000 for his first season as a varsity starter. Keeping Notre Dame on its toes is another junior, Braylon Huglon, who has focused on playing receiver after earning All-State honors last year at cornerback.
Huglon has 66 catches for 1,275 yards, 19.3 per catch, and has scored 22 TDs (18 receiving, 1 rushing, 2 kickoff returns and a pick six in spot duty in man coverage on defense.)
“He’s had a fantastic year with a new quarterback and a lot of new players around him. We’ve got to get the ball to him – he needs to touch it at least 10 times and we need a couple big plays out of him,” said Guin.
Sophomore quarterback Hudson Price has steadily improved and sparkled last week, going 9 of 10 passing and scoring on a 6-yard run. He has completed 68.5 percent (137-200, with only five interceptions) for 2,104 yards and 23 scores.
“We brought him along slowly on purpose and he’s gotten so much better. He made a great play on the goalline last week, when he pulled the ball and walked into the end zone, and he probably wouldn’t have done that earlier this season,” said Guin. “We’re super, super happy with his progress.”
The game will be streamed on VSN.com and broadcast locally on 90.7 FM.
Contact Doug at sbjdoug@gmail.com