Iota closes out season at St. Louis

Friday night will be the last opportunity for the Iota Bulldogs (0-9, 0-4 in district 4-3A) to pick up victory.

There's just one little problem. It's the St. Louis Catholic Saints' final opportunity as well.

The Saints (2-7, 0-4), which began the season 2-3 in its out of district, has been winless since entering district play in Week Six as well.

The Saints' problems are something Iota can relate to, as the Bulldogs have a season worth of problems, most of which have reared their heads at the most inopportune time, game after game.

But, it's Week 10, which means, there is one chance left.

“You're looking at two teams in the same boat fighting to stay out of the bottom of the barrel,” said Iota coach Neal Legé. “It's one last chance for us to get a win and them to finish on a positive note.”

As, always, the game plan starts at home, according to the Bulldogs' coach.

The Bulldogs rushed for 166 yards in Week Nine, which is below the normal output in the past few weeks. Add that to 0 yards in the air and an already typically run-strong team, became completely one-dimensional. Needless to say, Iota can ill afford making last week's offense a habit.

“Bottom line, we didn't block well Friday night,” said Legé. “It had a little bit to do with South Beau and a little bit to do with us. They got pressure coming in off the ball, doing this and doing that, but we made the wrong calls, blocked the wrong guys.

“Here we are, Week 10, talking about blocking guys.”

On side two of the bar, lies the defense. The Bulldogs' defense has seen marketed improvement since the beginning of the year, but last week, there was no answer, no way to stop South Beauregard.

“It's assignments; you have to take care of your assignments to be a good defense,” said Legé. “Friday night, we didn't tackle well; we took bad angles to the ball.

“We've just been hot and cold lately.”

Only after Iota fixes itself can it focus on the Saints, which, despite its record, will once again present trials and tribulations for the Bulldogs.

St. Louis has had injuries which has led to 11 Saints rushing the ball over the past four weeks.

Still, the Saints have their main guy, Jared Smith. Smith has 209 yards on 35 carries since entering district play which includes a 14 carry, 101 yard game against Iowa.

The problem for St. Louis, much like their opponent Friday has been consistency. For example, against Iowa, the team had 215 rushing yards against the Iowa Yellow Jackets. Against South Beauregard the following week, the Saints had minus-6 yards rushing.

“They're spreading it around,” said Legé “They lost a couple of guys here and there with one week one kid is playing this position, the next he's playing a different one. Their quarterback got hurt and went from a lefty to a righty last week. I don't know what his status is for Friday, but we'll prepare for both.

“They're both about the same. I don't think one is better than the other.”

St. Louis' Dylan Greenman was injured in Week Eight leaving Jack Boyer to start at quarterback in Week Nine.

The Saints defense has also featured inconsistencies which have helped St. Louis' opponents find the end zone. On average, the Saints are allowing over 28 points per game.

“They do some things well on defense, up front, the linebackers read the field well,” said Legé. “They're just a lot like us, a lot of missed tackles. It's kind of the same story as us.”

The Iota Bulldogs will travel to Lake Charles to take on the St. Louis Catholic Saints Friday night in Lake Charles.