Rebels Win Defensive Battle against Silliman

By Patrick Tate

The football coaches at Central Private School taught their team a valuable lesson this week.  Five percent of life is action ninety-five percent is how you react.  Coming off of a humbling defeat one week ago, Central Private entered the beginning of district play on Friday night with arch rival Silliman Institute.  As coach Longmire explained to them before the game, they would either be in the district lead or at the bottom at the end of the night.  Thanks to a very stingy defense and the ability to bounce back the Rebels lead the district after a defensive slugfest in Baker.  The Rebels were able to shut out the Wildcats and take an 8-0 victory.

After holding the Wildcats to a 3 and out series to open the game, the Rebels went on a 7 play 41 yard touchdown drive for the only score of the game.  After 3 plays netted 8 yards, Coach Longmire rolled the dice and went for it on 4th down.  The gamble payed off as Luke Fryoux threw a strike to Zach LeBlanc for 22 yards and a first down.  After a penalty left the Rebels 14 yards from the end zone, Fryoux went back to work, this time connecting with big tight end Taylor Fletcher for the score.  Fletcher said, "I just found the opening and slipped past the linebacker and Fryoux made a great pass that I took into the end zone."

Fryoux credited his favorite target with being wide open and making a great catch for the score.  The 2-pt conversion was completed as Fryoux connected with LeBlanc and CPS had an 8-0 lead.

The Rebel defense started to exert its prominence on the next drive as Orin Byland, Joey Harris, Chuck Conrad and Brennan West all had tackles behind the line.  On third and long Ryan Bowman came up with the Rebels first of three interceptions on the evening.  Silliman also brought a defense to the ball game and held the Rebels to 150 total yards on the night.  The next Rebel threat came after a half back pass from Ryan Bowman to Lance Wicker for 29 yards and a 1st down at the Wildcat 10 yard line.  A procedure penalty and a stubborn Wildcat defense kept the Rebels out of the end zone  A 43 yard run from Jake Parsons had the Wildcats threatening to score before half but Conrad and Byland added another sack for the Rebels to end the half.  Defensive coordinator Brian Smith was very pleased with his defense especially the shut out.  He said,"We covered well and the defensive backs kept the ball underneath.  We could not cover better and we made the interceptions when we had the chance.  Our free safety kept us where we needed to be."

The second half was once again a defensive stale mate.  Neither team was able to penetrate their opponents 30 yard line.  Two key defensive plays by the Rebels were able to stop any kind of threat by the Wildcats.  Troy Lowe made an outstanding play on a Wildcat receiver as he was able to strip the ball from him after a completed pass would have given the Wildcats a first down at the Rebel 11-yard line.  Johnathon Moak then ended the Wildcats last possession of the ball game with the Rebels third interception of the ball game.  The Rebels were then able to run the clock to :00 and end the ball game.  It was Moak's third interception in three games for CPS. 

The Rebels return to action at home on Friday night to take on Trinity, the former home of LSU running back Stephen Ridley before taking to the road for three straight ball games.