JEANERETTE – After Jeanerette High lost to Ascension Episcopal in week 4, jumior quarterback Aaron Tillman said that it was a wake up call for the team.
“We understood after that that we had to get better,” he said. ” We had to practice harder. We had from that point forward, Jeanerette football has been a machine. We had to practice smarter. We couldn’t assume that we were just going to win.”
Since then Jeaberette has been a machine.
The Tigers have not lost and have averaged more than 40 points a game in the process.
On Friday night in the first round of the Non-Select Division IV playoffs, Tillman had a rushing touchdown and a passing touchdown, and five other Jeanerette players scored touchdowns in a 58-0 demolition of West St. John.
With the win, the Tigers (9-1) will play host to Oak Grove in the second round with a berth in the quarterfinals on the line.
“I think we played good as a team,” Jeanerette coach C.C. Paul said. “We had some areas of concern but I think, as a whole, we put on a good show tonight.
“We didn’t come out flat. We played hard, we picked each other up and the kids were disciplined tonight, which was great to see.”
Tillman established the mood early.
On the Tigers’ first offensive play of the game, he was tackled for a 4-yard loss. On the second play, he ran for a 44-yard touchdown and added the two-point conversion to give Jeanerette a 8-0 lead.
“He ran the ball well,” Paul said. “He threw the ball well. He even had good tackles on defense playing safety. He had the all l-around game tonight.”
But Tillman wasn’t the only star of the Jeanerette offense Friday night.
On the Tigers’ third offensive play of the game., Devin Duhon was tackled for a 3 yd loss. On the fourth play, Duhon broker 63-yard run for a touchdown.
By the time it was over with generat’s offense had scored seven touchdowns. The defense added an eighth touchdown.
Paul was happy with the offensive explosion even though his team has been averaging more than 40 points, a game over the last seven weeks.
“I think it shows that our offense has been coming together,” the Jeanerette coach said. ” Everyone knows we have a strong defense now. They have to start worrying about our offense as well.”
Tillman attributes a lot of Jeanerette’s success and drive this year to the crushing loss. The team had in the semifinals last year.
“That semifinal loss has been on our minds all year long,” he said. “We know we’re good enough, talented enough to get to the state championship. We just have to put it in our mind to do it.”
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