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Catholic High of New Iberia running back Owen Morris has played a big role in the Panthers' explosive offensive arsenal this season. Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save Catholic High coach Matt Desormeaux knows how much publicity the Newman Greenies’ football program has garnered over the last three decades because of the Manning family’s influence. He also knows how much success the Panthers have had over Newman during the playoff matchups.
Desormeaux is pretty convinced none of that will matter when his No. 7-seeded Panthers travel to meet No. 2 Newman at 7 p.
m. Friday at Michael Lupin Field in New Orleans. “It doesn’t matter about history, it doesn’t matter about publicity .
.. it’s going out there and playing the game,” Desormeaux said.
Neither the Panthers (10-1) or Greenies (9-0) have played many competitive games this season. Since losing to undefeated Vermilion Catholic 14-10 in the season opener, the only competitive games Catholic played the rest of the way were 42-28 win over Notre Dame and 38-27 win over Lake Charles College Prep. Newman beat St.
Charles 24-10 in the opener and South Plaquemines 24-21 in Week 10, before trouncing D’Arbonne Woods 49-19 last week. Princeton-bound quarterback Eli Friend was 14-of-15 passing for 239 yards in that win. “Passing, that’s where we feel like they’re stronger, but they’re pretty balanced in their play calling,” Desormeaux said.
“It’s a solid team all over the way around. They run the ball well, but they are better in the pass game. “Defensively, they’re a three-down team and we hadn’t played many three-down teams this year.
” Catholic quarterback Luke Landry (134-198-1, 2166 yds, 31 TDs) connected on 19 of his 21 passes for 326 yards and four TDs in the 59-22 win over Northlake Christian. “He’s a smart football player,” Desormeaux said of Landry. “He knows our offense really well.
He’s able to able to change Mike calls and change protections. He reads defenses really well and he goes through his progressions. He very rarely will he pick a receiver and try to throw it to him.
He goes through that progression. “He moves well enough in the pocket. It’s his knowledge of the game and work ethic and preparation that’s been so good.
” Desormeaux said the preseason question about his team was the trenches and both lines have responded. “I felt like our guys have come a long way and developed a lot from that first game until now,” Desormeaux said. “I think that ended up being a pretty strong part of our team.
“Newman has two big offensive tackles, but other than that, I feel like we match up size-wise with them pretty well. I think we’ll be able to move the ball in the run game some. I think we have a chance to dominate the line on the D-line if we play well.
I think it’s a pretty even matchup with our two fronts. Other offensive leaders for Catholic are wide receiver Jaiden Mitchell (41-781, 11 TDs), tight end Joseph LeBlanc (46-461, 9 TDs) and running back Owen Morris (74-530, 9 TDs). “Teams have moved the ball pretty decently on them in the run game,” Desormeaux said.
“I think we have a chance to move the ball throwing it and running it a little bit.”.
