Bayou fights but falls to River late in game

Seldom do Thibodaux High Tigers and Central Lafourche Trojans crouch elbow-to-elbow to hold their ground offensively.

Rarer still is it to see members of the Terrebonne Tigers wearing South Terrebonne Gators, H.L. Bourgoeis Braves or Vandebilt Terrier stickers on their helmets, but that is what All-Star games are all about.

Saturday’s contest pitted the best the River Parishes has to offer against the best from the Bayou Region. By games’ end, the River Parish team left Guidry Stadium with the 26-8 win.

For the coaches, it was a chance to coach the seniors one final time. And for the players, the game provided another chance to lace their cleats in hopes of catching a scout’s eye.

“In an All-Star game like this, you have so many athletes that you want to get the ball to,” said Bayou Region head coach Travis Douglas of Central Lafourche. “You want to give all of them a touch, try to give them the ball in space and we were able to do that with him a few times.”

Thibodaux’s Demon Bolt stole the show for the Bayou Region, notching 103 all-purpose yards, including scoring his team’s only touchdown. Bolt’s efforts earned him Bayou’s Most Valuable Player Award.

“It’s something to remember,” the senior said. “We just wanted to go out and give it our all in our final game. To win the MVP was a cool experience.”

“I hope I played good enough to catch someone’s eye,” Bolt added. “I think I played well.”

The River Parish team fired first, with a 25-yard pass from Marcus Dumas to fellow St. James teammate Kenny Zenon at the 7:10 mark of the first quarter.

That lead was extended in the second quarter when River MVP Ryan Rome booted a 40-yard field goal to put his team in the lead 10-0. A high snap gave the Bayou team a safety just before halftime and the deficit was cut to 10-2 at half.

Rome’s leg proved to be the biggest asset, as all but two of his kickoffs were booted out of the end zone, putting the Bayou team in horrid field position.

“That is such a weapon,” River coach Tim Taffi of Riverside Academy said. “I’m on the sideline yelling and screaming at the coverage team to get down there but it’s really a moot point because I’m not thinking we have one of the better kickers. What a weapon.”

Bolt’s two-yard run put Bayou back in it, but H.L. Bourgeois’ Jereme Lagarde was tackled at the one during the two-point attempt to make the score 10-8 with 5:17 to play in the third.

The River Parish team held the Bayou team scoreless the rest of the way and added another field goal by Rome, this time from 50 yards, to increase the lead to 13-8 with 1:15 to play in the third.

Hahnville’s Jai Steib’s one-yard touchdown run and St James’ Mason King’s three-yard touchdown reception sealed the win.

“Going into the game, I was a little concerned about our defense,” Taffi said. “I thought we were a little undersized compared to last year. However, the kids came out and executed. They played a very spirited game, and we’re proud of them.”

Douglas commended his team in the losing effort.

“The kids played great, they gave a great effort,” he said. “We were one play away early in the game. We had a chance to tie the game and that’s all you can ask for. We let it get away at the end, but it happens.”