Bears move on with shutout victory

The Church Point Battling Bears defeated Donaldsonville High School’s Tigers with a final score of 35-0 in a Class 3A regional playoff tilt at White Castle High School.
Head Coach John Arceneaux said despite feeling like the Bears brought their best, the Tigers were more physical than expected.
“They had a good plan. Defensively, we were able to get after them early. We thought it was important to start fast, get the lead and make them play from behind,” he said. “I think we were able to make them uncomfortable.”
This victory makes the Bears the first to win 12 games and also makes them the first class to reach the quarterfinals twice.
After the Bears first received the ball about two minutes into the game, they proceeded with a long drive, ultimately getting all the way to the Tigers 18 yard-line before turning the ball over on downs.
Jaden Reese recovered a fumble from the Tigers not long after. Jalon Reese and Andy Briceno were then able to get to the Tigers 10 which allowed Tylon Citizen to inch the ball to the Tiger two yard-line.
Briceno made the first score with 52 seconds life in the first quarter and also scored a two-point conversion which made the score 8-0.
In the second quarter, the Bears would then nearly lose the ball and get driven back, but Jaden Reese, in a quick succession of runs moved up the field allowing Chandler Guillory to sneak up one yard for a score, which when combined with a successful two-point conversion from Briceno, brought the score to 16-0.
On the next Bears drive, after two carries, Briceno ran 37 yards for another touchdown to bring the score to 22-0.
After a touchback, the Tigers took over at their own 20-yard line.
However, Church Point’s excellent defensive game kept the Tigers further grounded durning the drive, giving the ball back to Church Point at the 47 yard-line.
Briceno got the ball once more and ran to the Bears 47 yard-line for a first and 10. The combined efforts of Guillory, Briceno, Citizen and Reese moved down the field in a long, slow drive which end with Briceno running two yards to score a Bear touchdown. The kick was no good which left the score at 28-0 to end the second quarter.
Arceneaux said gaining control was vital at this point.
“Though we had some mistakes, like with fumbling the ball in the end zone, we still had control,” he said. “It was important that we did this because with 28 points at half, they can still make some plays still come back with some quick strike guys.”
In the third quarter neither team scored. Arceneaux said there was solid strategy at play.
“The goal was to shorten the game and eat up as much clock as possible, and we did that. “We drove it down, took two penalties inside the five yard-line and threw an interception,” he said. “We did what we needed to do to advance, and that’s what football’s all about.”
In the Bears’s last possession in the fourth quarter, Citizen was able to find a wide open space at the Tigers 22 yard-line and slip through smoothly and quietly for the final touchdown of the game.