Steady Bearcats welcome Merryville for homecoming

By News Staff on Thursday, October 27, 2022
  • (At left) Bearcat quarterback Luc Johnson (4) lines up behind his center Christian Bergeron (73) in a game against Ville Platte earlier this season. Other identifiable Bearcats visible on the line are (from left) Emory LeJeune (65), Wyatt Bertrand (55), and Da’Shawn Randell (78). (Photo by Nikki Johnson)
    (At left) Bearcat quarterback Luc Johnson (4) lines up behind his center Christian Bergeron (73) in a game against Ville Platte earlier this season. Other identifiable Bearcats visible on the line are (from left) Emory LeJeune (65), Wyatt Bertrand (55), and Da’Shawn Randell (78). (Photo by Nikki Johnson)
    By: RHETT MANUEL Sports Editor BASILE – Sure, Basile is still in the driver’s seat for the District 5-1A championship. Sure, they’ve spent a good portion of this season playing strong football. Sure, the Bearcats are a miracle last-second play from being unbeaten in 2022. None of it matters to Basile head coach Kevin Bertrand, especially considering an equally physical Merryville team is coming to Basile in hopes of spoiling the Bearcats’ homecoming and their chance to clinch at least a share of the district crown. What you see is what you get with Merryville. It hasn’t changed in a long time. The Panthers want to punch you in the mouth with their run game, early and often. “They’re a run-heavy team,” Bertrand said. “They like to play in a bunch of different formations and out-formation you. We’re ready for it and we’re zoned in. We know they’ll play hard for four quarters and we’ll have to do the same.” Getting a team’s best shot is what Bertrand has come to expect for several years now. It doesn’t change, no matter the team or the record. “It’s always a challenge when we step on the field,” Bertrand said. “We know we’ll always get the team’s best effort. We’re trying to prepare the best we can this week and be at our best Friday night.” Basile moved to 7-1 last week with a more-than-meets-the-eye 24-6 win over Port Barre. It’s a game where Basile had its way at times and was disrupted by mistakes at others. “We had some penalties at key times that disrupted the flow of the game,” Bertrand said. Thankfully, Basile’s defense was its usual stellar self, with its offense providing a steady scoring output throughout the game. “I thought we played another outstanding game defensively,” Bertrand said. “I thought we played well, it’s just circumstances that kept the score closer than people imagined. But it wasn’t as close as the score said it was.” As for what it will take for Basile to take control of its fate in district? “We’ll have to take care of the ball and limit penalties,” Bertrand said. “If we do that we’ll be O.K.”