OPELOUSAS -- Jeanerette Senior High’s run toward the District 6-2A championship hit a big snag Thursday night in the form of the Opelousas Catholic defense.

The Vikings, selling out to stop the run and hoping to get just enough defense to contain the pass, did it to perfection, stopping the Tiger express 24-0 to claim a share of the district title.

“The defense stepped up to the challenge tonight and the offense did just enough to win,” said OC coach Doug Guillory. “That’s a good football team we played and our kids showed up to play. We’re district champs and if we can pull off a win against Port Barre next week, we’re undefeated district champs.”

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Opelousas Catholic won with defense.

The Vikings held Jeanerette’s star running back Anthony Williams, who averaged 200 yards per game rushing, to 38 yards, most of which came in the second half. At one point, Williams had minus 13 yards rushing as the Vikings did everything they could to bottle up the JSH junior.

“They took away our running game and the passing game was sporadic,” said JSH coach Terry Washington. “But I’m still proud of my kids. We were down 24-0 at halftime and in the second half we didn’t give up any points.“

The Tigers finished with just 178 yards of offense, only eight of which came via the running game.

Jeanerette’s offensive struggles in the first half put pressure on the defense to keep OCHS out of the end zone. For the most part JSH was successful but too many times the Vikings had a short field to drive and they were able to break through and score a touchdown and a field goal in the first half.

Opelousas Catholic’s other two first-half scores came via the big play and they combined to eventually doom the Tigers.

Up 7-0 after quarterback Nick Artall scored on a four yard run, OC’s Jalen Edwards jumped in front of a Kendal Charles pass to Darion Hurst and returned the interception 46 yards for a score to increase the lead to 14-0 with 30 seconds left in the first quarter.

“Our d-line was stopping the run so we didn’t need the outside run support any more so we dropped people in the secondary and were able to jump routes,” said Guillory. “Jalen Edwards did a great job of jumping the route and ended up with a pick-6.”

The second play that killed Jeanerette happened with 36 seconds left before halftime as Artall dropped back and lofted a pass down the sidelines and into the arms of Dorian Durald, who beat the JSH coverage and cruised to the end zone to complete the 75-yard scoring strike that made the score 24-0 at the break.

“The play before halftime was the nail in the coffin,” said Washington. “They had the momentum going into halftime and we were down. But the kids came back.”

Jeanerette tried to get back into the game in the second half.

The Tigers twice had the ball inside Opelousas Catholic’s 20-yard line but penalties and unconverted fourth down plays hurt JSH.

On one series, the Tigers had a fourth down at the OC 29. Charles lofted a pass into the end zone to an open Hurst, but the JSH senior wasn’t able to come up with the diving catch and Jeanerette turned the ball over the Vikings.

“I told the kids that it was one of those nights where it just wasn’t our night,” said Washington. “You have those nights and I’m glad it happened tonight and not later on. I knew that it was going to be tough tonight and our kids didn’t give up. They fought and now they understand what it takes to be a playoff team.”

Now the Tigers turn their attention to the season finale next week against in-parish rival Loreauville. Jeanerette still has a chance to share the district title with a win over LHS and an Opelousas Catholic loss to Port Barre.

“We have to refocus,” said Washington. “We had our opportunity, we blew it. Now we need help. Loreauville is a game that can go either way.

“I would like to get that win to go into the playoffs with a little momentum instead of a two game losing streak. Our backs are against the wall.”