OBERLIN – For the second week in a row, the Sacred Heart Trojans allowed their first half momentum to slip away as they gave up a 7-6 halftime lead in a 35-14 loss to the Oberlin Tigers Thursday night.
With the loss, the Trojans fell to 0-2 on the year, while the Tigers improved to 2-0. Sacred Heart will host Basile Friday night. Oberlin entertains cross-parish rival Oakdale on Friday.
Last week, Sacred Heart allowed 26 points in the third and fourth quarters in a 34-14 loss to the Ville Platte High Bulldogs. After the game, Trojan head coach Josh Harper spoke about the breakdowns his team has endured over the last two games.
“I don’t know if it is a lack of experience or what it is, but we are just not finishing games,” stated Harper. “I do know that it is up to myself, the coaches and the team to figure it out. I know we have a lot of players going both ways, but that is just how we are built this season. That’s football. We are having too many breakdowns in the second half.”
The game against Oberlin did not start off as good as Sacred Heart would have liked. Forced to punt after their opening possession of the game, the Tigers did not waste time picking up points.
On the very first play from scrimmage following the change of possession, Oberlin’s Collin Chatman took a toss sweep and raced untouched 54 yards down the sideline for the first score of the game. The extra point was no good making it a 6-0 lead for the Tigers with only 1:30 taken from the clock.
Undaunted by the quick Oberlin score, the Trojans got the ball back at their 35-yard line following the ensuing kick. Behind the running of Alex McElwee and the precise passing from Gabe Fontenot, Sacred Heart reached the Tiger 19-yard line in 14 plays.
On play 15 of the drive, Fontenot found McElwee in the flat, and the junior running back busted his way in to the end zone to tie the game up. Sam Hollier booted the extra point, and with 5:14 left to go in the first quarter, the Trojans led 7-6.
The third quarter opened almost identically to the first quarter. After receiving the kickoff to open the second half, Oberlin needed only five plays to get on the board for the second time in the game.
On first and 10 from their 44-yard line, junior wingback Aiden Reed took the handoff on a counter play and blew past the Trojan defense for a 56 yard touchdown run. Quarterback Levi Peloquin powered in for the two-point run giving the Tigers a 14-7 lead with 9:29 to go in the third quarter.
That score remained until the fourth quarter. It was here Oberlin began to pick up the momentum and put Sacred Heart away.
The Tigers went to the air to find their way to the end zone for the third time in the game. On third and 17 from the Trojan 44-yard line, Peloquin found Trevor Rider all alone down the middle of the field and hit the junior receiver on stride for a 44-yard touchdown pass. Jared Joubert added the point after, and, with 8:04 to go in the game, Oberlin led 21-7.
Forcing Sacred Heart to punt on their next possession, the Tigers took over at the Trojan 42-yard line. Two plays later, Peloquin was on target once again, this time hitting Joubert on a 40-yard post route for his second touchdown pass of the night. The extra point was good by Joubert, and Oberlin now led 28-7.
The final touchdown of the night for the Tigers came via the defense. On the first play of the ensuing possession for Sacred Heart, Fontenot was swarmed over by the Oberlin defense on a pass attempt. The ball was stripped and Cheyenne Citizen picked the ball up and sprinted 20 yards for the score. The extra point was good off of the foot of Joubert giving the Tigers a 35-14 lead.
Not giving in to the big Oberlin advantage, Sacred Heart mounted a drive late in the fourth quarter. Utilizing the passing game, the Trojans marched 59 yards in 11 plays, capping off the possession with a 10 yard touchdown pass from Ethan Karonika to Noah Soileau. Hollier tacked on the extra point, making it a 35-14 game. McElwee led all Trojan rushers with 62 yards on 19 carries. Fontenot was seven of 15 for 78 yards and a touchdown through the air. Tyler Perry led all receivers with three catches for 33 yards.
Chatman was the leading ground gainer for the Tigers, carrying the ball 11 times for 102 yards and a touchdown.
Peloquin was five of nine for 143 yards and two touchdowns through the air. Joubert caught three passes for 99 yards and a touchdown.
May 29, 2026
