Pios set for Superdome showdown with Rebels

CROWLEY – Notre Dame returns to the Dome after a two year absence in hopes of taking home the big trophy for the first time in six seasons.
“After the way we played the first three weeks, we felt we would have a chance with this team. You have to have a guy with a pretty good trigger and Joe (Faulk) has really played well at quarterback with the team rallying around him and our defense has been lights out. We’ve had teams we thought would get there that didn’t and teams we didn’t think would make it that did. As this season went along we felt we had a shot.”
Riverside returns to the title game for the first time since 2000. Ironically, Coach Lewis Cook was there also that year for his first Notre Dame State Championship over Redemptorist.
“We were good on defense and that always gives you a chance. We also had a guy at quarterback (son Jeff Cook) we were pretty confident about. I remember it was a journey just getting through the playoffs. We had a first round game that was pretty tough against North Caddo and on the road at Breaux Bridge in the semis went down to the end. In the finals, we were behind the whole game before finally getting the lead. That was a special win because it was my first here.”
Notre Dame is in the state finals for the 10th time. This is the 8th trip under Cook who won the championship with his 2009 team over Parkview Baptist after runnerup finishes in four of the six seasons preceding the last title.
“It felt good to get that monkey off our back. We had come so close, losing three years in a row by a touchdown and the year before we hung in there tough against Lutcher in the finals with Ryan (Leonards) out injured and Stu (Cook) at quarterback most of the Richwood game and the big semifinal win over Redemptorist.”
Who can forget that game! Linebacker D.J. Welter made an open field stop at the three yard line as time ran out to preserve a 17-10 win. The finals loss to Lutcher was the only setback in a 13-1 season and the next season the Pios were perfect winning a 14-7 title game.
With Leonards back at QB and son Stu at runningback with Logan Venable, the offense kept the ball for the final six minutes of the game. You could feel the sigh of relief as the Pios coach shared the moment with oldest son Lew who on the coaching staff.
“That ’09 team felt they could get there from day one and set their sights on winning it. With Ryan back healthy, they went wire to wire ranked #1 and that doesn’t happen very often. I have had thoughts that our team this year reminds me of that team by the way they handle themselves in the same way.”
“It’s been such a pleasure to be with these guys all year long. They have handled themselves well, policed themselves as far as being disciplined and doing the right things. I’m so happy for this group to get this experience.”
EXTRA POINTS
The win over St. Thomas Aquinas was number 320 in the 400th game of the 31 year head coaching career of Lewis Cook. That moves the Pios coach into a tie for fifth place on the list of career wins by Louisiana High School coaches.
Oak Grove coach Vic Dalrymple was 320-99 over 32 seasons. Cook now has an overall record of 320-80 and is 220-35 in his 19th season at Notre Dame.
GAME BALL AWARDS
Big Play of the Game – Hayden Bourgeois runs down receiver after 88 yard gain. Leading 6-nothing in the second quarter, the Pios defense, in the words of coach Mac, fell asleep for a play and a five yard jump pass over the middle looked like a St. Thomas Aquinas score. Bourgeois ran down the receiver at the Pios six after an 88 yard gain. The defense held and STA missed a field goal. It was a game changing play and maybe a season changer!
Gabe Petry – Pios rushed for 303 yards with seven backs carrying the ball. Petry had some big runs at crucial times and led the group with 97 yards on 9 totes.
Paul Guidry – The Notre Dame Nightmare lived in the offensive backfield with nine tackles including a sack and four tackles for a loss. By the second quarter, the STA quarterback was backing up on every snap to get away from the relentless rush.
Jack Veillon – For one of the most exciting plays of the night, reading the screen pass, Veillon rushed into the passing lane, jumped and deflected the pass up then intercepted and returned 38 yards for a touchdown. Veillon didn’t get to keep the score because a stiff arm into the face of a defender he fought off for the last ten yards was interpreted by officials as a penalty. Still, it was a super effort.
Pios Fans – They always travel well, but the visitors side was loud and proud all night and gracious and courteous in victory. They arrived early, were enthusiastic and respectful and left late to prepare for one more week.
Southeastern Louisiana University – For hosting the game in their stadium and providing a great experience for the high school players and fans. Thanks.
SCOUTING REPORT
Riverside Academy lost the season opener to 5A John Ehret, 29-28, and rebounded with impressive wins over then number one 3A Parkview Baptist (27-19) and playoff teams 5A Hahnville (10-7) and 4A Plaquemine (31-14). The Rebels won District 12-2A with wins over Newman (41-14), West St. John (44-6), St Charles Catholic (35-3), Country Day (43-24) and Sophie Wright (49-0).
Riverside played a rugged schedule against teams with a combined 84-45 won-loss record and has an eleven game win streak heading to the Dome. The Rebels opened the Division 3 playoffs with a 55-8 win over Northlake Christian and posted second wins this season over league opponents Newman and St. Charles.
The Rebels led Newman 10-9 at the half in the quarterfinals before exploding in the second half for a 38-15 win. In the semis, St. Charles battled Riverside to a 7-7 tie at the half and the Rebels controlled the second half, scoring on their last three possessions for a 35-14 win.
“They are pretty solid all the way around,” notes Pios coach Lewis Cook. “Defensively, they have athletes that can run and cover and they make you earn everything you get. Offensively, they have some guys that can go the distance.”
Quarterback Jared Butler (6-1, 175) was injured to start the season but is back at full speed to lead the offense. The sophomore had a 24 yard TD pass to senior receiver Tyler Gauthier (5-11, 175) against Newman two weeks ago. Against St Charles last week, Butler ran for 92 yards with a nine yard TD run and threw for 163 yards with scoring strikes to Gauthier of 10yards and 52 yards.
“He is kind of the same type player we saw last week,” added Cook. “He is athletic and will take it down and run it and he has good receivers and throws it well. It’s good we got a taste of it last week with Dantzler.”
Senior runningback Brandon Sanders (5-6, 175) is the workhorse of the running game. In the Newman playoff win, Sanders rushed for 184 yards and two scores on runs of 30 and 4 yards. Sanders was held to 56 yards on ten carries last week but had a 26 yard TD run.
Senior fullback DeAndre Wilson (5-11, 215) is a change of pace power back for short yardage and lead blocker for Sanders.
The Rebels have used a lot of four receiver sets and spread the ball to a group of capable targets. Gauthier caught 4 passes for 81 yards against Newman and last week grabbed 6 receptions for 115 yards and the two scores.
Senior receiver Herb McGee (6-1, 175) helps with the running game, scoring on short runs of two and one yard. McGee also plays defense and had an interception returned to the one yard line that set up the first score against Newman.
McGee is an athletic multi position player who filled in at quarterback for the injured Butler at the start of the season. In a week two win over Parkview, McGee completed 12 of 17 passes for 104 yards with one score and added a five yard TD run.
Junior receiver Avonti Carter (6-2, 195) and sophomore Jalen Banks (6-3, 175) are two more capable targets in the spread offense. Carter caught two touchdown passes early this season against Parkview.
Junior Glenn Bernard (6-1, 275) is the center on an offensive line that boasts size and athleticism. The left side is sophomore guard Mason Scioneaux (6-0, 245) and senior tackle Drake Perret (6-3, 220). On the other side are senior guard Garrett Anders (5-9, 220) and junior tackle Cameron Cook (6-2, 270). Junior Darius Wilson (6-1, 230) is a two way backup seeing time at tackle on both sides of the ball.
Defensively, Riverside appears to favor the four man front with a walk up defender to the strong side and move and interchange according to the situation. Anchoring the front is senior end Tyler Lewis (6-3, 240). Junior Kobe Foster (5-10, 195) plays down at the end spot and also backs off as a linebacker. The tackles are junior Fred Means (5-10, 225) and senior Evan Veron (6-0, 220). Sophomore Leboe Bridges (6-2, 220) and senior Thaddeus Andry (6-3, 225) rotate in for help on the defensive line.
At linebacker is junior Trey Catoire (5-9, 190) and junior Harrison Heckathorn. Seniors Jajuan Bell (5-10, 175) and Kendall Martin (5-11, 185) lead an experienced secondary. Juniors Hardell Mack (5-9, 160) and Cardez Joseph (5-9, 170) start at safety and corner.
“It’s not like we haven’t seen this type of team,” concludes Cook. “Our games against Breaux Bridge, LaGrange and Calvary presented similar challenges. This will be a tough game like it should be in the state championship. We’ll see who has the will to carry it through.”