Eagles edge Welsh in OT thriller

By Jordan Arceneaux, Sports editor

A game between two teams who combined for a record of 24-3 last season, did not disappoint.
The Vermilion Catholic Screamin’ Eagles squeaked by the Welsh Greyhounds in a 32-26 overtime game for the ages. Vermilion Catholic came out in the first half, looking like they were still in a rut from last week’s loss to Catholic High of New Iberia. Turnovers and missed opportunities held the Eagles to only six points in the first half, and a 14-6 halftime deficit.
“In the first half we played well, but we let a couple of plays get away from us,” said head coach Russell Kuhns. “We went into halftime, and challenged our guys to finish plays.”
The Eagles came out in the second half and answered the challenge issued by the Vermilion Catholic coaches, outscoring the Greyhounds 26-12 in the second half.
Welsh drew blood first on the scoreboard with a two yard touchdown run by Kyvonte Eaglin with 8:37 remaining in the first quarter.
Welsh tacked on another touchdown in the second quarter boosting the lead to 14-0. The Eagles responded with a touchdown run by Tyler Derouen cutting the lead to 14-6 heading into hafltime.
The Eagles struck first in the second half when Derouen scored on a three yard run that was set up by a 36-yard pass from quarterback Hunter Frith to Derouen on the previous play. The two-point conversion failed, and the deficit was cut to two points at 14-12.
Welsh extended the lead when quarterback Hayden Freeland connected with Garrick Gray for a 40-yard touchdown pass with 51 seconds left in the third quarter. After a blocked PAT, the Greyhounds led 20-12.
The connection of Frith-to-Derouen struck again in the fourth quarter with a 40-yard bomb that cut the lead to 20-18.
Like a title fight between heavyweight boxers, the teams went back and forth, and Welsh responded with a 3-yard scamper by Keshon Bell that was sparked from a 78-yard kick return by Gray. The Welsh lead was extended to 26-18, and that would be the last points the Greyhounds scored.
Driving down the field on their last possession of regulation with under 30 seconds left, Derouen was able to find his way into the endzone from 1-yard out to cut the Greyhound lead to two. A successful two point conversion, sent the game into overtime.
Welsh won the toss in overtime and elected to get the ball first. The Vermilion Catholic defense clamped down and stopped the Greyhound offense on four downs, and gave the ball back to their offense at the 10-yard line.
A false start on the first snap pushed the Eagles back to the 15, but the stadium went crazy on the next play when Derouen, lined up at quarterback, took the direct snap and willed his way into the endzone with the help of his linemen for the game-winning score.
“We were still confident after the penalty, said Derouen. “We had the play called to the left. They were trying to check it right, but I was like ‘no dude just run it.’ We hiked it and I got stuffed, but my center just kept pushing me in. That was the best game ever.”
For the second time in two years, the Eagles defeated the Greyhounds. The veteran-laden Eagles team from last year was down 14-0 as well, but disposed of Welsh in the second half 39-14. The younger Eagles team of this year ended the game in a more dramatic fashion.
“It was a great team that we just beat. It’s always sad to have a winner and a loser in a game like that,” said Kuhns. “There is a time in every season, especially when you have a young group like we have, when they have to quit being rookies and grow up and become experienced. I think that happened for us in the second half.”
Vermilion Catholic hopes to use the momentum built from this victory into the game next week versus rival Erath next Friday at 7 p.m.