After going 2-2 to start this season, the Basile Bearcats are poised to pick up their fourth win in a row and are seeking to secure a top 10 spot in the final power ranking come November 4th.
For Basile (5-2, 3-1) to do that, they must go on the road and get past a formidable opponent, the Oberlin Tigers (6-1, 3-1) in this week’s District 4-1A match-up.
Getting back several key players from the injury last week, the Bearcats sliced and diced Elton for a 49-20 win. Now, Basile head coach Kevin Bertrand knows he must take advantage of his team’s healthiness in their remaining games.
“When we are completely healthy, we are a pretty good football team,” stated Bertrand. “We have a number of veteran guys that have been in this position for the past four years. They know what is at stake for us down the stretch. We have had a great week of practice. Now it is time to translate that onto the field.”
Their opponent this week, Oberlin, has done an excellent job this season of holding teams down defensively. The Tigers only give up a meager nine points per game and have held opponents to eight points or less in five of their seven games.
“They are huge, especially up front,” said Bertrand. “The thing about them is that they are a sound, solid defensive football team. They do not give up a ton of points. It will be a challenge for us this week to move the ball on them. We have been challenging our offense all week long to go out and perform like they did last week.”
Despite the impressive record of the Tigers, Bertrand knows that only one thing matters, his team’s performance.
“We are going to have to take care of the ball and do what we do well,” commented Bertrand. “It all boils down to playing the football that I know we are capable of playing.”
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TRACEY JAGNEAUX Sports Editor