By Dave Moormann
MaxPreps.com
More than a blast from the past, it was an indication of the present and why New Orleans Brother Martin is undefeated after four games.
The sons of two former New Orleans Saints’ of the same name combined to help the Crusaders turn back Denham Springs on the road, 20-6, in a Class 5A non-district game.
Dalton Hilliard Jr., whose father also was a star running back at LSU in the 1980s, rushed 21 times for 162 yards and three touchdowns.
Patrick Swilling Jr., whose father played linebacker as the elder Hilliard’s teammate in New Orleans, ended Denham Springs’ final drive with an interception at the 4-yard line. He returned it 62 yards.
Brother Martin scored on second-half drives of 73 and 71 yards that the 5-foot-7 Hilliard capped with touchdown runs of 3 and 1 yards. Dante Butler complemented Hilliard with 16 carries for 110 yards.
John Simon, whose brother of the same name spent three years in the NFL, led Denham Springs with 13 carries for 56 yards. He also scored on a 30-yard, first-quarter run. The Yellow Jackets’ Simon left midway through the third quarter with an ankle injury.
“John’s been in a walking boot for two days,” Denham Springs coach Dru Nettles said. “He wanted to give it a go on his ankle and gave a great effort. But then when they fell on it, it took him out of (the) game.”
Patriots Enjoy Lucky 7s in Impressive Performance
Everything came up sevens for River Ridge John Curtis in its 48-0 rout of visiting North Miami Beach at Nicholls State.
The top-ranked and defending Class 2A state champion Patriots scored seven touchdowns and forced seven turnovers.
John Curtis quarterback Evan Ingram fueled the victory by rushing for three touchdowns and throwing for two more. Ingram capped John Curtis’ first two drives with touchdown runs of 1 and 24 yards, respectively. Ingram later scored on another 1-yard run.
“I was surprised,” John Curtis coach J.T. Curtis said of the final score. "I had three or four coaches tell me they think North Miami could win the whole thing (Florida state title). Maybe the trip has something to do with it, I don't know, but we felt they were a good team. We just executed awfully well.”
North Miami Beach appeared in the Class 6A semifinals in Florida last season.
Baton Rouge Parkview Baptist Continues Streak
Top-ranked and defending Class 3A state champion Baton Rouge Parkview Baptist won its 19th consecutive game over two seasons, including its fourth this year, but it didn’t come easy.
The Eagles escaped with a 20-17 road victory on the final play when senior running back Brant Legendre scored on a 2-yard run to beat Cecilia.
The touchdown capped a 79-yard drive in 2:21, with quarterback Brady Wilson completing 6 of 11 passes along the way. Parkview Baptist edged Cecilia in overtime last season, 29-28.
Parkview Baptist coach Kenny Guillot said there never was any doubt that the Eagles were going for the victory.
“That’s us,” Guillot said. “That’s the way we play. From two yards out, we’re going down swinging.”
The victory spoiled the spectacular performance of Cecilia’s Marcus Wiltz, who rushed for 151 yards and two touchdowns. He scored from 46 and 75 yards, with the latter field-reversing dash giving Cecilia a 17-6, third-quarter lead.
Sterlington Takes Down No. 1 Monroe Ouachita Christian
Sterlington stands only 2-3, but it certainly knows how to beat Monroe Ouachita Christian, no matter how strong the Eagles may be .
Sterlington’s seventh consecutive victory over Ouachita Christian sent Class 1A’s top-ranked team to its first loss in five games. Sterlington did it in sterling fashion, too, as quarterback Logan Dopson rebounded from a costly errant pitchout to lead the game-winning drive that produced the 30-25 upset.
Ouachita Christian had taken a 25-22 lead with 2:23 left after recovering Dopson’s wayward pitchout to Marquis Douglas at the Sterlington 21-yard line. But no sooner had Taylor Dawson kicked a 33-yard field goal than Sterlington roared back.
Dopson, with Douglas’ help, directed a four-play, 70-yard drive that took just 43 seconds to complete. Dopson capped the march with a 30-yard touchdown pass to Douglas at 1:41. For good measure, Douglas added the two-point conversion run.
“We sure needed that,” Sterlington coach Mike Collins said. “It's a good ‘W.' I'm proud of them….This gets us a little confidence back.”
Cross Country: Showdown Goes to Baton Rouge St. Joseph's Academy
In a battle between the state’s top two girls cross country teams, No. 1 Baton Rouge St. Joseph’s Academy edged Lafayette by two points to win its own St. Joseph’s Academy Invitational.
St. Joseph’s Academy took the 46-team meet with 102 points. Covington was third with 113 points.
“I told the girls earlier this week that getting to the top is easy, it’s staying on top that’s hard,” St. Joseph’s coach Sam Young said. “They know that now….Honestly, I didn’t think we’d win.”
Baton Rouge Catholic finished first in the 49-team boys’ division with 87 points. Defending state champion Brother Martin took second with 88 points, while New Orleans Jesuit and Covington St. Paul’s tied for third with 127 points.
“To be honest with you, I had no idea if we were even in the mix while the race was going on,” Catholic coach Pete Boudreaux said. “I knew our top four were running extremely well, but that was about it.
“It turned out we did well enough. But what a great competition.”
More than 1,500 runners competed in the meet, with Philip Primeaux of Catholic and Angela LaBorde of Covington taking individual honors.
Primeaux toured the three-mile course in 15 minutes, 33 seconds in beating runner-up Ben Kilpatrick of Baton Rouge University High by 20 seconds. St. Paul's Matt Mouton was third in 16:02.
LaBorde finished first in 18:37. A week earlier, she had won the LSU Cross Country Festival on a different course at Baton Rouge Highland Road Park. Abby Tar Hear of Baton Rouge Episcopal took second in a school-record 18:46. Heather Fishery of Marrero’s Academy of Our Lady placed third in 19:19.
“It was hot, and the second mile was definitely the hardest,” LaBorde said. “It was rough in the middle. I was able to get through it and then pick it up a little more on the third quarter.”
Dave Moormann covers Louisiana for MaxPreps. He may be reached at moormann54@aol.com.