Close friends to battle for Catholic League title when Rummel faces Shaw

Some how, someone in some way always seems to draw up the District 10-5A football schedule with uncanny foresight.

In 2008, the climactic 10th game of the regular season pitted co-leaders Rummel and Brother Martin for a 10 a.m. affair at Joe Yenni Stadium, a matchup claimed by the Crusaders 14-9.

One year later, the top dogs are paired once again on Week 10.

Rummel (9-0) and Shaw (7-2) will meet Saturday at 2 p.m. at Hoss Memtsas Stadium, each in possession of a 3-0 Catholic League mark.

But the Raiders, rated No. 2 in the polls and No. 1 in the power ratings, and the Eagles, back in Class 5A after a four-year stint in 4A, have maintained district perfection in divergent ways.

With the exception of an early 14-0 hole against Jesuit, Shaw has handled its district opposition in impressive fashion, none more so than this past Saturday in the first game of a District 10-5A doubleheader at Joe Yenni Stadium.

In grinding out vital rushing yardage on lengthy drives, Shaw thumped the Crusaders 40-7 behind a 157-yard, four-touchdown performance by running back Lawrence Breaud. The successful storyline for the Eagles was statistically simple: 257 yards rushing, no fumbles, no interceptions, one punt, one penalty. Offensively, the Crusaders managed just 83 yards rushing and 70 yards passing against a defensive unit spearheaded by free safety Anthony Hughes who had eight

tackles and an interception.

Many took note, among them Rummel Coach Jay Roth. "Shaw is sound, big and physical," said Roth. "They run the ball so well, they don't need to pass."

Since coaching together at Shaw more than two decades ago, Roth and Shaw's Scott Bairnsfather have maintained a close friendship off the field.

"For the past 23 years, we meet on Sunday after the season and go to Baton Rouge together for the playoff pairing meeting," said Roth. "My father (former Rummel Coach Easten Roth ) cooks for us. No matter what happens between us and our teams on Saturday, we always do this on Sunday." They should have plenty of fodder for discussion this week.

On the heels of Shaw's victory Saturday afternoon, Rummel edged St. Augustine 7-6 later that night. Minus fullback Sam Barnes and quarterback Luke Cartozzo, Roth turned to freshman quarterback Damian Williams. The Raiders' defense set up Rummel's lone score when St. Aug quarterback Terry Lucas, caught in a tangle between two Rummel defenders, attempted a pass that was intercepted by Lance Lasiter at the Purple Knights' 19-yard line. A Williams to J.J. Brown scoring pass completion of 8 yards and an extra point by Marc Raziano represented Rummel's total output.

The rest of the night was marked by the Knights' frustration. The Purple Knights had a pass completion for a possible score miss by inches. Ditto for a gambling rush from punt formation on 4th-and-15 by Tyrann Mathieu. "It was decided by the width of a credit card," said Roth of the fourth-quarter measurement. The Knights also recovered two fumbles by Williams on handoffs.

"Freshman mistakes," said Roth. "This week at practice, we have to trim the game plan. We have to make it simple. We cannot have too much stuff. But we must be able to throw the ball. You are not going to run on them all day."

Rummel last defeated St. Aug by a 7-6 score in 1974, the season of Rummel's first district championship. "I told the players after the game we're 9-0 and playing for a district championship, no matter how we have done it," said Roth. "I want them to stay positiive. I never thought we would do this. Seven of our games have been (close) like St. Aug. We got every break in the book last week. We were very lucky. "Our defense has saved us. I'm still waiting for the offense to come around."

Shaw, meanwhile, has not tasted a district defeat since a 38-31 loss to Holy Cross in 2004. Shaw is bidding for its first outright Catholic League championship since 1998. Such a feat would be nothing new for the Eagles who claimed outright district titles in 1976, '86, '88, '89, '90, '91, and '94, in addition to a state championship in 1987, the last for the Catholic League in football.

"I am happy and pleased to be playing for a district championship," said Bairnfather.

Shaw has rebounded from pre-district losses to Karr and Westgate of New Iberia.

In the Martin victory on Saturday, the offensive line appeared particularly effective.

"Our offensive line is the real deal," admitted Bairnsfather. All of which should make for an intriguing matchup when the Shaw 'O' meets the Rummel 'D'.

"Rummel has the best team defense I have seen in a long time," said Bairnsfather. "No one has moved on them. And if you do, they stop you in the red zone."

After competing at the turnstiles with LSU-Tulane, USC-Oregon and the World Series last Saturday, the Eagles and Raiders find themselves challenging Alabama-LSU, Les Miles vs. Nick Saban on Saturday afternoon. Maybe the schedule needs some fine tuning.