SSC Retains Crab Trap with 42-7 Win over Bay

The Rocks jumped out ahead of the Tigers and kept them at bay throughout the game for a 42-7 victory in the annual tilt. With the win, Saint Stanislaus retains the Crab Trap and moves ahead in the annual series 39-20.

The Tigers started the game on offense with Benton Ladner connecting with Jackson Callaway for a six-yard gain only to have to punt away to the Rocks.

SSC took over at their own 42-yard line. The Tiger defense pinned the Rocks at a fourth-and-seven situation only to commit pass interference on the down to give the Rocks a first down at the Tiger 40-yard line.

Max Bernard connected with Lex Rhodes for a gain of 12 yards down to the Tiger 23-yard line. A false start penalty backed the Rocks up to the 28-yard line. After a minimal gain, Bernard found Liam Hayes in the left corner of the endzone for a 25-yard scoring aerial with 6:52 left in the opening quarter. Jude Babin’s PAT made the score 7-0.

Following the ensuing touchback, the Tigers (0-2) were intercepted when Lex Rhodes stepped in front of a Tiger aerial at the Bay High 43-yard line.

Bernard went back to the air for the Rocks with a nine-yard completion to Rhodes followed by a five-yard connection with Adam Oliver.  Bernard stayed on the ground with gains of six and 11 yards down to the Tiger two-yard line. Bernard then pulled the Tebow jump toss to Brick Compretta for a two-yard score with 20 seconds left in the first quarter of play. Babin’s PAT made the score 14-0.

After a sack on the first play of the drive, the Rocks had the Tigers facing a fourth-and-11 scrimmage line when the Rocks were flagged for sideline interference that gave the Tigers a first down at midfield. However, four plays later, the Tigers were intercepted by Fischer Smith at the Tiger 47-yard line.

The Rocks (1-1) went back to the air with a four-yard toss to Oliver followed by gains of 17 and six yards by Rhodes through the air from Bernard.

Bernard appeared to rush for a 21-yard score, but a holding flag brought the ball back to the Tiger 12-yard line. Bernard found Hayes for a gain of six yards followed by two minimal rushes from Drake Schmitt before Bernard called his own number on a one-yard quarterback keeper with 5:46 left in the first half. Babin’s PAT made the score 21-0.

The Tigers looked to Javien Thompson on three consecutive carries that went for minus-1, two, and five yards that forced a Tiger punt. Following a 10-yard return by Oliver, the Rocks took over at the Tiger 44-yard line.

Bernard found Hayes for a 42-yard gain down to the Tiger two-yard line. Bernard called his own number and scored from two yards out with 2:56 left to play in the half. Babin’s PAT made the score 28-0.

Ladner found De’Quine Broussard for a nine-yard gain before an offsides penalty against the Rocks gave the Tigers a first down at the Tiger 34-yard line.

Consecutive passes to Que Victor from Ladner had gains of six and 11 yards. After two incomplete pass attempts by the Tigers, Hayes stepped in front of a Tiger pass at the Rock 40-yard line and returned the pick 60 yards for a touchdown with no time on the clock. Babin’s PAT made the score 35-0 at halftime.

The second half started with a running clock due to the point differential.

Walter Williams kickoff was received at the Rock one-yard line by Oliver who returned it to the 34-yard line. Bernard then found Oliver for a 56-yard aerial down to the Tiger 10-yard line. Bernard called his own number and scored from 10 yards out with 9:23 left in the third quarter. Babin’s PAT made the score 42-0.

On the ensuing possession, Thompson ripped off an 18-yard run for the Tigers. But Bay High turned the ball over on downs.

The Tiger defense led by Cameron Close, who finished the game with seven tackles for the Tigers, forced a Rock punt by Babin that went for 50 yards before Callaway returned the ball to the Tiger 27-yard line.

Ladner found Callaway for a gain of 18 yards followed by an 11-yard gain from Broussard. Ladner found Carlos Cruz for an eight-yard gain down to the Rock 29-yard line. Kilanta Burt took over from there. He had four carries for 29 yards including a four-yard scoring run with 1:09 left to play. Williams’ PAT was good making the final score 42-7.

Bay High head coach Katlan French commented, “We had a plan for the season until last week when we lost our starting quarterback early in the game for the season. Now, we are trying to find out what we can do. We probably put a little too much pressure on Benton Ladner in his first start because he is the future of this program. We want to target Javien Thompson and what he can do with the football. Kilanta Burt ran hard for us tonight, as well. Our defense was put in some very difficult situations. We need to figure what we do well and work on improving that. We need to put this one behind us and get ready for Long Beach this week.”

The Tigers were led on offense by Broussard who had three receptions for 40 yards.

Saint Stanislaus head coach Evan Gay stated, “We had our best week of practice so far in preparation for this game. Our defense played lights out tonight. Our players are buying into what we are trying to do. Max Bernard really had a good week of working through his progressions in practice and that carried over to tonight. We were four-for-four on our possessions in the first half. Now, we need to get focused on Moss Point. We need to continue to play physical and become more efficient in the red zone.”

The Rocks were led by Bernard who threw for 201 yards and two scores on 13-of-18 passing. He also rushed nine times for 44 yards and three scores. Hayes caught four passes for 77 yards and a touchdown while Rhodes had five catches for 55 yards and Oliver had three receptions for 65 yards.

The Rocks are set to host Moss Point ‘between the walls’ at the Brother Philip Memorial Athletic Complex this Friday. This will be the 30th game between the two schools on the gridiron. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.