10 Cecilia vs. Opelousas eye-catchers

Opelousas built a two-score lead with its physical rushing attack and shutout defense highlighted by great third- and fourth-down stops to end potentially promising Cecilia drives.   But the home Bulldogs eventually found its sparks on special teams and defense in the third quarter to begin swinging the momentum and scoring the game's final 18 points to stun the Tigers, 25-22, on a [player_tooltip player_id='901126' first='Jonathan' last='Boudreaux'] field goal.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-fRQr8g-LlE </div></figure>     [player_tooltip player_id='710273' first='Corey' last='Amos'] | 6-3, 2025 LB | Opelousas (2025)   Opelousas established a strong physical tone with its power rushing attack and stingy defense that repeatedly stepped up on big third- and fourth-down plays and took a 14-0 lead into the third quarter. Amos, the team's highest-profile defensive prospect, was among the leaders in that latter effort, including a fourth-down tackle for loss in the red zone in the second quarter. Amos played both ways and had at least one reception on a nice play on which he effectively chipped a defender out of position on his way out of the backfield.   [player_tooltip player_id='901126' first='Jonathan' last='Boudreaux'] | 6-0, 175 TE/K/P | Cecilia (2024)   The Bulldogs' senior leader made earlier catches and kicks, but particularly rose to the occasion with three huge plays in quick succession in the final minutes. "Bubba" caught the game-tying two-point conversion, added the go-ahead field goal the following drive and then had a kickoff Opelousas returners were attempting to allow to reach the end zone for a touchback instead die inside the 1-yard line and giving the Tigers pinned back with an extra-long field ahead.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZqfhbUSuZ08 </div></figure>   Corey Broussard | 5-6, 170 RB | Cecilia (2024)   The senior running back provided big plays as both a rusher and receiver to provide the Bulldogs' offense one of its top weapons around [player_tooltip player_id='145333' first='Diesel' last='Solari'] and [player_tooltip player_id='913920' first='Ellis' last='Stewart']. — including an 8-yard touchdown run in the final second of the third quarter on which he was able to bounce the play outside and out-run defenders to the goal line.   [player_tooltip player_id='913928' first='Travis' last='Esprit'] | 6-0, 200 LB | Opelousas (2025)   The junior linebacker was another active playmaker in the box for the Tigers' defense with several tackles at or behind the line of scrimmage with his good closing speed and secure, physical tackling — including his involvement on multiple third- and fourth-down stops and his pressure and explosive quarterback hit that helped force a [player_tooltip player_id='913912' first='Kyran' last='Moore'] interception.   [player_tooltip player_id='710072' first='D'Shaun' last='Ford'] | 5-11, 210 RB | Opelousas (2025)   The well-known junior helped the Tigers build their two-score lead with his powerful rushing, to the tune of 28 carries for 156 yards and the game's first two touchdowns. His success pounding the ball between the tackles gradually opened up the field for quarterback Zach Malveaux and complementary tailback Zay Amos to bounce longer runs outside en route to 73 and 91 yards, respectively, including a Malveaux touchdown.   [player_tooltip player_id='913904' first='Brent' last='Gordon Jr.'] | 5-11, 175 DB/ATH | Cecilia (2025)   "B.J." made big plays for his Bulldogs in all three phases, particularly a pair of pivotal third-quarter plays on special teams and defense that helped provide a much-needed spark. After a stalled drive to open the second half, Opelousas opened the door with a muffed punt upon which Gordon eventually pounced after players on each team failed to corral the ball. The recovery set up Cecilia's first score of the game. And later in the quarter, he stripped Ford of a fumble that helped regain possession, continue building momentum and set up another score.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDjRb3ASKlM </div></figure>   Bronson Patt | 5-6, 195 DL/LB | Cecilia (2024)   "Sweet Potato" was an active defender in the box throughout the evening, but at no moment bigger than a fourth-quarter sack and forced fumble that helped set up Cecilia's game-tying touchdown drive. He and Gordon were among the definite defensive leaders, along with senior defensive back [player_tooltip player_id='403554' first='Jylan' last='Wiltz'], who made a leaping grab in the end zone for the team's first interception; senior defensive back Jacob Joseph, who recovered the Gordon-forced fumble; and sophomore linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='1237789' first='Braylon' last='Jones'], who recovered the Patt-forced fumble and tacked on a 15-yard return to further improve the offense's starting field position.   [player_tooltip player_id='145333' first='Diesel' last='Solari'] | 5-8, 175 QB/DB/ATH | Cecilia (2025)   The Bulldogs' dynamic junior quarterback was an important piece of their defensive effort as well as he keyed on Ford throughout the contest and eventually made the leaping interception in the final seconds to seal the victory. But efforts on offense, overcoming a tough first half and making several plays integral to Cecilia's comeback, were his bigger story for the contest. Solari made plays as a passer, rusher and receiver, including his third-quarter dance through traffic to finally find the end zone for the team's first points and his fourth-quarter throws to the end zone for the final, well-placed touchdown to [player_tooltip player_id='913920' first='Ellis' last='Stewart'] and subsequent game-tying two-point conversion to Boudreaux.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r2FcYwYEgN0 </div></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='913920' first='Ellis' last='Stewart'] | 6-0, 170 WR | Cecilia (2025)   Another versatile multiple-phase and multifaceted playmaker for the Bulldogs, the junior was one of the team's biggest playmakers on offense as a receiving and rushing threat from his primary role as a wide receiver and also stepped in for a drive in the third quarter to take quarterback snaps and make big plays both passing and rushing. But, unquestionably, Stewart's biggest play came on the leaping touchdown grab through contact from Solari in the final minutes.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KzoU6PnI5Bc </div></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='915074' first='Justin' last='Washington'] | 5-10, 175 DB | Opelousas (2025)   The junior defensive back was consistently around the ball as one of the bigger playmakers in the Tigers' secondary, including getting off blocks to help wrap up two fourth-down stops and an interception to help snatch some momentum back for Opelousas shortly after the Wiltz interception for Cecilia.

Opelousas built a two-score lead with its physical rushing attack and shutout defense highlighted by great third- and fourth-down stops to end potentially promising Cecilia drives.