Top Performers: Abbeville vs. St. Martinville

A pair of top teams in always wide-open Class 3A provided one a nice midseason measuring stick in what proved to be a district-opening thriller. Upstart Abbeville, amid its best start in decades, fell behind host St. Martinville for much of the contest, but made enough critical plays late to pull itself back within striking distance and put the Tigers quickly back on their heels. The final heaves toward the end zone fell innocently, though, and left the Wildcats’ comeback attempt just short, 27-24. Here were a few of the top players from each side. &nbsp; <strong>ST. MARTINVILLE</strong> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="144884" first="Steven" last="Blanco"] (2024)</strong> <strong>5-10, 190 RB</strong> The junior running back was the work horse and offensive star for the Tigers with one impressive run after another to 80 yards and two touchdowns. Blanco showcased both his strength to battle through tackles and his speed for bigger gains when he could find or create space and split the load with senior quarterback Tanner Harrison in the ground game. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="138440" first="Harvey" last="Broussard"] (2023)</strong> <strong>6-4, 180 WR</strong> The highly recruited junior receiver was Harrison’s go-to in the passing game when the Tigers did take to the air. Trailing in the first minute, Harrison went right to Broussard for a quick screen that turned into about 15 yards on first down and then back again three plays later for a 40-yard touchdown. The talented basketball player didn’t see his long-term football ceiling until earlier this year and has quickly developed from a jump-ball threat to a more well-rounded receiver taking catches across the middle and winding through defenses for more yardage and laying out monster blocks to free Blanco on the ground. <strong>Trashawn Brown (2023)</strong> <strong>6-0, 285 DL</strong> The big defensive tackle cherished a rare opportunity or two against Abbeville to showcase a wider ranger of his skill set. Brown was quick into the backfield for a couple tackles for loss, but also ranged back into coverage on a broken play before the half to intercept a prayer toward the goal line and enjoyed himself enough that he drifted backward again on a second-half two-point play to deflect another pass to the end zone. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="136495" first="Mandrel" last="Butler"] (2022)</strong> <strong>5-10, 185 ATH</strong> One of St. Martinville’s senior leaders on defense, "Blue" snatched a first-quarter interception and returned it all the way for the lead. Butler had another pass breakup and also remained a constant playmaker in run support playing near the box with a physical presence beyond his size. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="136597" first="Quinton" last="Butler"] (2022)</strong> <strong>6-1, 265 DL</strong> The big defensive lineman, another Division-I prospect for the Tigers, shed blocks and wrapped up a few key tackles near or behind the line of scrimmage, including quickly wrapping up the final Abbeville scramble to end the late-game drama and seal away the victory. &nbsp; <strong>ABBEVILLE</strong> <strong>Blake Saddler (2022)</strong> <strong>5-6, 160 ATH</strong> The undersized athlete may quietly be one of Louisiana’s most explosive athletes. Saddler returned the opening kickoff and then another just minutes later both to the end zone to put his Wildcats on the board and then back ahead and provide some early confidence agains their favored hosts. He added a 76-yard scamper off a quick toss to help spark the comeback push and finished with 150 yards rushing and more than 300 all-purpose yards. <strong>Jaysen Shelvin (2023)</strong> <strong>6-1, 185 ATH</strong> Abbeville’s junior quarterback was the top complement to Saddler with his own legs on physical runs between the tackles or just off tackle, then faked run and pulled up for a quick jump-pass to Chad Nolan to pull back to within 27-24. <strong>Nalen St. Julien (2023)</strong> <strong>6-0, 185 DL</strong> After the track meet of the opening minutes, St. Julien wrapped up Harrison for a physical tackle for loss that seemed to help slow things down and start establishing a defensive tone. The Wildcats fell behind, 27-12, in the second quarter, but stepped up and shut down St. Martinville the entire second half to begin scratching back. And the disruptive play of their quick and athletic junior defensive end was a big part of that effort.