Church Point tops Brusly

CHURCH POINT –The Church Point Bears scored 35 points in the second half to break open a close game on the way to a 42-7 victory over the Brusly Panthers here Friday night in Class 3A bi-district action.
The Bears took a 7-0 lead in the first quarter as they marched 71 yards in 15 plays on their first offensive possession of the game.
Frederick Williams scored on a two-yard run with 3:00 minutes left in the opening quarter. Key play of the drive was Christian Veronie’s 24-yard run. Kian Richard kicked the PAT for a 7-0.
Brusly’s Caleb Henderson returned the ensuing kickoff 37 yards to put the Panthers at their own 41.
Panthers’ quarterback Connor Manola completed passes of eight and 17 yards to Zavian Bell to move to the Bears’ 34.
After a sack and a penalty, the Bears managed to get a first down as Manola passed to Austin Watts for 11 yards and Bell powered for a first down at the Bears’ 25.
But another quarterback sack and another penalty set back the Panthers, forcing a third-and-21 at the Bears’ 31-yard line. Manola completed passes to Josh Allen and Bell for 16 yards but failed to pick up a first down.
Taking possession at their own 15, the Bears advanced into Brusly territory thanks to a 39-yard run by Deion Monroe. But the drive would stall as the Panthers’ defense stiffened, keeping the score a 7-0 at the half.
The Bears received the second half kickoff and promptly marched 58 yards in five plays for a touchdown. Monroe sparked the drive with a 41-yard run. But the drive ended when Richard’s 37-yard field goal attempt was blocked.
Brusly moved the ball down to the Bears’ 17 once again, but failed to convert a fourth-and-8 when Josh Oubre dropped a Manola pass.
That play proved a turning point in the game as Church Point would drive 83 yards in nine plays for a score.
Senior fullback Christian Veronie began the drive with a 36-yard run and ended it with a three-yard touchdown run. Veronie carried six times for 67 yards on the drive. Richard kicked the PAT for a 14-0 lead.
The Bears then forced a three-and-out punt which traveled only 21 yards to the Brusly 42.
It took just three plays for the Bears to score as Williams carried for five, Veronie broke free for 38, and Veronie finished the drive with a two-yard touchdown run. The PAT kick failed, but the Bears owned a 20-0 lead with 1:18 left in the third quarter.
The Bears increased their lead on the ensuing kickoff when the Panthers misplayed the football and Grant Sonnier recovered in the end zone for a Bears’ touchdown. Monroe ran for the two-point conversion to make it 28-0 with 1:06 left in the third quarter.
Monroe would break loose for a 63-yard touchdown run and Richard was kick the PAT to increase the Bears’ lead to 35-0 with 10:33 left in the game.
Following an interception by the Bears’ Jaylen Kelly, Williams scored on a 25-yard run and Richard booted the PAT to make it 42-0 with less than ten minutes remaining.
The Panthers didn’t quit, though, as they drove 74 yards for a touchdown, capped by Manola’s pass to Bell, who shook off a tackler and raced 45 yards for a touchdown. Connor Clouatre kicked the PAT to make it 42-7.
Veronie led Church Point in rushing with 180 yrds on 22 carries. Monroe added 163 on 10 carries.