Benton’s Wing-T runs over Vandebilt in quarterfinals, 28-17

On a night that saw the LSU football team lose its shot at a BCS Championship, Vandebilt Catholic also had its state-title aspirations dashed against Benton.

The Tigers ran a Wing-T offense to near perfection, racking up 171 yards and two touchdowns from fullback Casey Henderson and 168 yards and a touchdown from Lambert Tasby, en route to earning a hard-fought 28-17 Class 4A quarterfinal victory last Friday at Buddy Marcello Stadium in Houma.

With the win, Benton (12-1) advances to the state semifinals where it will host defending 4A champion Bastrop on Friday.

Vandebilt ends its season at 11-2.

“Without a doubt, they (the Tigers) were the best running football team we’ve played all year,” said Vandebilt coach Mark King. “We knew coming in that they were a good football team, and it was going to be a challenge trying to stop them.”

Nonetheless, the Terriers did a good job trading punches with Benton in the early stages of the game.

Vandebilt jumped out to an early lead with the help of quarterback Evan Mistich, who completed 3-of-3 passes for 23 yards, including an 8-yard scoring strike to Braden Eschete. Eschete’s extra point put the Terriers in front 7-0.

Tasby ran in the Tigers’ first score on the ensuing drive, but Vandebilt maintained the early lead by blocking the extra point.

Benton smothered the Terriers next drive and scored the go-ahead touchdown when Henderson barreled into the end zone from four yards away. The Tigers’ 2-point conversion failed, however, and Benton led 17-7 at 3:08 of the first.

Vandebilt came to life on its next drive with the legs of Curtis Welch, who drove his squad upfield with runs of 15, 5, 9 and 4 yards to help set up a 5-yard touchdown run by Dexter Smith. Eschete’s extra point helped the Terriers retake the lead at 14-12.

Benton moved the ball on its next drive, but was stopped when Zack Perry’s 32-yard pass up the middle was tipped into the hands of Mistich.

The Tigers took advantage of their next possession, however, driving the ball 43 yards in eight plays to set up Bobby Thornton’s 2-yard touchdown run. Thornton took the pitch and scored the 2-point conversion to put Benton ahead 20-14 heading into the half.

But the Terriers offense fizzled in the second half.

Facing first and goal, Henderson found a hole and ran 4 yards for his second touchdown. With the extra point, the Tigers owned a 28-14 advantage at 4:38 of the third quarter.

Vandebilt was only able to put points on the board on one more drive midway through the fourth quarter when Eschete notched a 29-yard field goal.

“Our kids did a great job on defense,” said Benton coach Mitch Downey. “We played hard and made some plays and we were able to overcome their size. I’m very proud of the way we were able to make plays and keep their quarterback hemmed up. They weren’t able to convert.”

Mistich finished 5-for-11 for 86 yards and a touchdown. He also had 78 yards rushing.

“They’re very well coached and do a good job,” Downey added. “We were able to make just a few more plays than they did tonight. But when you make it to the state quarterfinals and you’re still playing after Thanksgiving, you have a heck of a football team. They need to be proud of what they’ve done this year.”

Westlake 27, E.D. White 0

The Cardinals ran into a stifling defense that kept them off the scoreboard in a Class 3A quarterfinal matchup Friday at Westlake Rams Stadium.

They also fell victim to the legs of Vincent Collins, who rushed for more than 230 yards and three touchdowns.

Collins’ performance helped him eclipse the 2,000-yard plateau for the season.

Westlake (13-0) advances to the Class 3A state semifinals against No. 15 Patterson, a 56-31 winner over St. Louis.

E.D. White ends its season 8-5 overall.

(Photo by CHRIS SCARNATI

• Tri-Parish Times) Vandebilt running back Dexter Smith squirms away from a Benton tackler in Friday’s 28-17 Class 4A quarterfinal loss. The Terriers finish their 2007 season at 11-2.