Top Performers: Catholic (Baton Rouge) vs. Acadiana

As district opponents cancelled games because of COVID-19 quarantines, a pair of Louisiana’s perennial powers pivoted into one of the top matchups of the entire regular season. Catholic (Baton Rouge) and Acadiana managed to schedule one another on short notice and provide fans just the fourth-ever meeting between the highly regarded programs and first since 2009. Each team has won a state title as the highest level in the past three years and appears poised for a deep run this December. But, first, they — and everyone in Baton Rouge’s Memorial Stadium — enjoyed as challenging of a mutual measuring stick as anyone could ask for, with the the Bears starting fast, surviving the Rams’ second-half barrage and escaping on just enough plays late, 27-21. Here were a few of the top performers. &nbsp; <strong>2021 Recruiting Class</strong> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="63630" first="Christian" last="Mannino"] — 6-2, 290 DL — Catholic</strong> Acadiana is known for its ball-control veer offense and stingy defense, limiting its own mistakes and capitalizing on those of its opponents. But Catholic was able to quickly flip the script on the Wreckin’ Rams and put its guests in a rare hole early thanks in no small part to its big defensive tackle. Mannino was active and opportunistic in the scrum on third downs on Acadiana’s first two possessions to swipe away fumbles and set the Bears up in prime field position that helped build a 21-0 lead in the first half. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Acadiana third down. Fumble... and senior DT [player_tooltip player_id="63630" first="Christian" last="Mannino"] has it for Catholic. Bears with great starting field position. <a href="https://t.co/C04mVBLPNw">pic.twitter.com/C04mVBLPNw</a></p> — Jerit Roser (@JeritRoser) <a href="https://twitter.com/JeritRoser/status/1327790320315215877?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 15, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="63608" first="Michael" last="Cerniauskas"] — 5-11, 195 DB — Catholic</strong> This season has had the opportunity to be a frustrating one for the Army commit, with a couple of injuries further limiting his action during the already-shortened season. But Cerniauskas remained a consistent leader and cheerleader for his teammates during his absence. And, back on the field for this marquee matchup, he shone in some big moments, including a critical third-down tackle for loss in the third quarter of a tied game and an interception in the fourth with Catholic protecting a slim lead. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Army?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Army</a> commit [player_tooltip player_id="63608" first="Michael" last="Cerniauskas"] all over this third-down for the TFL. Catholic will force an Acadiana punt. <a href="https://t.co/jWqYlt4mlU">pic.twitter.com/jWqYlt4mlU</a></p> — Jerit Roser (@JeritRoser) <a href="https://twitter.com/JeritRoser/status/1327815249068777474?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 15, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="63706" first="Jackson" last="Demouy"] — 6-2, 190 — Catholic</strong> Another senior safety, who transferred this offseason from the Dallas area, stepped into a major role early in the season as Cerniauskas worked his way back onto the field. And Demouy has seemed to get increasingly comfortable and more consistent with each week, including a tackle for loss and a big pass break-up late against Acadiana. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="63579" first="Cameron" last="George"] — 6-2, 245 DL — Acadiana</strong> Even against a typically consistent Catholic offensive tackle duo, the Louisiana (Lafayette) commitment was able to get to the edge and apply pressure on several occasions, including a sack, and showed the awareness to get his hands up into passing lanes and bat at least two other passes down at the line. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="fr">[player_tooltip player_id="63579" first="Cameron" last="George"] bats a pass. <a href="https://t.co/CBbQLFFe44">pic.twitter.com/CBbQLFFe44</a></p> — Jerit Roser (@JeritRoser) <a href="https://twitter.com/JeritRoser/status/1327792941256085510?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 15, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="63685" first="Caleb" last="Arceneaux"] — 5-11, 205 LB — Acadiana</strong> The senior linebacker was all over the field for the Wreckin’ Rams, pressuring the quarterback, chasing down ball carriers in traffic and in space on the perimeter, deflecting passes in coverage and even helping disrupt a punt attempt, then scrambling to scoop up the loose ball to give his team better field position for its last chance at a comeback. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">2021 LB [player_tooltip player_id="63685" first="Caleb" last="Arceneaux"] with the breakup for Acadiana. <a href="https://t.co/eD0LOHnXuS">pic.twitter.com/eD0LOHnXuS</a></p> — Jerit Roser (@JeritRoser) <a href="https://twitter.com/JeritRoser/status/1327814264057434112?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 15, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="63623" first="Ian" last="Montz"] — 6-2, 275 DB — Acadiana</strong> Another of Acadiana’s senior leaders played his part in helping slow down the Bears after their fast start and allowing his team’s offense to chip away at the lead and pull back even. Among the highlights was a second-quarter play in which he diagnosed the run play, burst into the box, found his gap and tripped up the running back for a loss. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Great tackle in the backfield by Acadiana safety [player_tooltip player_id="63623" first="Ian" last="Montz"] coming up in a hurry and tripping up the ball-carrier. <a href="https://t.co/Hm2CPm5Sio">pic.twitter.com/Hm2CPm5Sio</a></p> — Jerit Roser (@JeritRoser) <a href="https://twitter.com/JeritRoser/status/1327794973232783360?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 15, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <strong>Kendrick Richard — 6-1, 175 DB — Acadiana</strong> Richard was exceptional at shedding perimeter blocks to contain Catholic rushing attempts to the outside. The senior cornerback made one sure tackle after another to limit the damage to minimal gains and also chased down a returner on one punt to force the Bears to start their possession from their own 14-yard line. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Nice open-field tackle by Acadiana DB Kendrick Richard. <a href="https://t.co/HYgHCwFUrd">pic.twitter.com/HYgHCwFUrd</a></p> — Jerit Roser (@JeritRoser) <a href="https://twitter.com/JeritRoser/status/1327789463951581185?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 15, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> &nbsp; <strong>2022 Recruiting Class</strong> <strong>Lloyd "Tre" Benson — 5-10, 170 WR — Catholic</strong> The junior wide receiver easily led all pass catchers in the game with four receptions for 81 yards. But no other play came close to matching his 45-yard reception late to stop Acadiana’s 21-0 run, ending Catholic’s drought and putting the Bears back ahead, 27-21, in the fourth quarter. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">First play of the drive. Catholic coach Gabe Fertitta trusts freshman QB Daniel Beale to sling deep. Tre Benson is there, and the Bears lead 27-21 with 5:15 remaining. 45-yard score. <a href="https://t.co/ZAjj0R3Tgd">pic.twitter.com/ZAjj0R3Tgd</a></p> — Jerit Roser (@JeritRoser) <a href="https://twitter.com/JeritRoser/status/1327820678515601410?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 15, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <strong>Jermaine Vessel — 6-0, 200 DL — Catholic</strong> Defensive tackle Connor Finucane graduated in the spring and headed to Army. Rising senior defensive end [player_tooltip player_id="63591" first="Braelon" last="Hobson"] transferred to Scotlandville for his final high school season. And, in recent weeks, junior Wes Woodward has been held out as he recovers from a concussion. But juniors Vessell and Jordan Toaston have made the most of their opportunities to keep the Bears’ defense playing at a high level. Vessell was among his team’s leaders in tackles in this one. <strong>Omiri Wiggins — 5-10, 185 RB — Acadiana</strong> The Wreckin’ Rams finally did get their offense rolling and chipped all the way back to a 21-21 game in the second half. A quartet of athletes combined for 317 yards on 40 carries (7.9 yards/attempt) even in senior running back Tyvin Zeno’s absence. And none was more consistent — and arguably unexpected — a weapon as Wiggins, who gashed Catholic for a game-high 107 yards and a touchdown on just nine attempts for an average of 11.8 yards per touch. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">First down... and Omiri Wiggins is gone a lllooonnnggg way for Acadiana. Josh Wax chases him down at about the 15 for Catholic. Rams in the red zone for the first time. <a href="https://t.co/gPQkWMJ5bY">pic.twitter.com/gPQkWMJ5bY</a></p> — Jerit Roser (@JeritRoser) <a href="https://twitter.com/JeritRoser/status/1327796391771574280?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 15, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> &nbsp; <strong>2024 Recruiting Class</strong> <strong>Daniel Beale — 6-0, 170 QB — Catholic</strong> No player left the matchups as more of a talking point than Catholic’s freshman quarterback. Beale was only recently elevated to the varsity roster and saw limited playing time the previous week in relief of senior Landon O’Connor. But when O’Connor, who had scored his team’s first touchdown early in the game, exited shortly thereafter with a sprained ankle, it was the youngster who had to step up into a far bigger role than anticipated against one of the more challenging opponents that could have awaited him. And Beale did his job. He completed 10 of 21 passes for 113 yards, but his confidence and poise proved enough to keep the Bears knotted with Acadiana and then hit Benson for the game-winning strike at a crucial moment. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">[player_tooltip player_id="63579" first="Cameron" last="George"] on the pressure. Daniel Beale does a great job stepping up and avoiding it. Contact downfield. Ruled incomplete. Catholic coach Gabe Fertitta pleading with refs, “Why is that not a flag?!? There’s no ‘uncatchable’!!” Bears will punt. <a href="https://t.co/KFG3QfAFGt">pic.twitter.com/KFG3QfAFGt</a></p> — Jerit Roser (@JeritRoser) <a href="https://twitter.com/JeritRoser/status/1327810370128519168?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 15, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>