Rebels Lose District, Still Headed to Playoffs

By Patrick Tate; Photos by Selser Photography

    Due to an oversight on the part of this reporter two valuable members of the Central Private football team's seniors were omitted from last week's column.  Also playing their final regular season game for the Rebels were tight end and defensive end Cody Overstreet.  Cody has done a fantastic job of limiting any peripheral rushing attempts by Rebel opponents and in addition has contributed big plays in needed times hurrying and sacking the opposing quarterback.  He has also been a big part of the Rebel offense with key blocks and catches from his tight end spot. 

    The other senior is Taylor Fletcher who was the key to getting the Rebel passing attack started as he was the favorite of quarterback Luke Fryoux in many games.  Taylor also contributed on the defensive side of the ball opposite Overstreet- the two provide solid bookends for the Rebel defense.

    In the pairs final game of the season, which saw Miss Sarah Fryoux crowned the 2010 CPS Homecoming Queen, the Rebels battled hard but were defeated by the Centreville Academy Tigers by the score of 35-14.  The loss sends the Rebels to Pineville for the first round of the MAIS playoffs while CA retained the district championship.

    After being forced to punt on its opening possession CP forced a Tiger fumble at the Rebel 29 yard line.  Ryan Bowman jarred the ball loose and Trevor Shepherd pounced on it for the Rebels.  CP then went on a 9-play 71-yard scoring drive to take a 6-0 lead.  The drive was highlighted by a couple of Seth Stevens passes to Lance Wicker, a 12 yard strike to Bowman and a 28 yard completion to Shepherd.  Stevens finished the drive with a 16 yard scamper into the end zone out of the wildcat formation.  The quick hitting plays worked well for the Rebels most of the night as the Rebel line of Brandon Sullivan, Orrin Byland, Rhett Seguin, Daniel Holloway, Brennon West, and Sy Tate opened holes for the quick striking Rebel backfield.

    The Rebel defense then forced a CA punt but a fumble on that punt was recovered by CA at the Rebel 25 yard line.  A steady diet of Cliff Hurst up the middle on 6 consecutive plays put the Tigers in the endzone and the PAT by Hurst put the Tigers ahead 7-6 with 11:54 remaining in the second quarter.

    A Rebel attempt at a fourth down conversion on the 46-yard line was halted by the Tiger defense and CA took possession of the football.  A 15 yard facemask penalty on CPS aided the Tigers drive which ended on a Hurst 5-yard blast.  He again added the extra point and CA had a 14-6 halftime lead. 

    In a very physical football game, the injuries began to mount for the Rebels and depth was being stretched in the second half.  The Rebels were able to mount the first sustained drive in the second half led by the rushing of Dustin Johnson out of the Wild Rebel formation.  The Rebels reached the CA 29 yard line but had a pass intercepted by Tiger DB Colby Shaw. The Rebel defense was able to flex its muscles at this time with Overstreet tackling a Tiger ball carrier in the backfield before LeBlanc and West sacked the Hurst forcing a Tiger punt.

    The Tigers then forced a Rebel punt and 2 plays later Hurst burst through the middle for a 58 yard jaunt to the end zone.  A flag was thrown on the play for an illegal block in the back on the Tigers but the officials ruled that Hurst had already crossed the goal line.  Film of the play show that Hurst was actually on about the 20 yard line at the time of the block.  Regardless, the play stood and after Hurst kicked the PAT the Tigers held a 21-6 lead.

    It took Hurst and the Tigers just one play on their next possession to increase the lead.  Hurst burst through the right side of a depleted Rebel line and bolted into the end zone from 51 yards away for a 28-6 Tiger lead.  Colton Terrell would add a 9-yard score for the Tigers before the Rebels were able to mount their final scoring drive.  The drive was an 11-play, 82-yard effort.  Johnson was the work horse on the drive carrying 6-times for 32 yards.  Shepherd added 25 yards on the drive and also caught a 10 yard pass from Fryoux.  Fryoux scrambled the final 5 yards for the score and then tossed to Shepherd for the 2-point conversion and a 35-14 final score.

    The Rebels do not have long to heal as they head to Pineville to face Cenla Academy in the first round of the playoffs at Louisiana College.  The Rebels will be attempting to end a streak of first round losses as they face a team making its first playoff appearance in school history.