The Yellow Jackets’ first-round opponent, Central High School, is the kind of football team that likes to throw the ball first, much like Hutson’s own team at NISH did with quarterback Jared Butler and receiver Isiah Mitchell in 1999 and 2000.
Central quarterback Will Briscoe has completed 142 of 208 passes for 2,388 yards with 30 touchdowns and only two interceptions on the season. His top target is his brother Wes Briscoe with 43 catches for 956 yards and 16 TDs, but he has three other receivers he likes to throw to as well.
 Desarie Sam of New Iberia, left, heads upfield during a game this season. The 7-3 Yellow Jackets open the playoffs at 9-1 Central on Friday. - Lee Ball / The Daily Iberian Advertisement
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They are. The Wildcats have rushed for 1,136 yards and thrown for 2,717 this year. No back on the team has rushed for 100 yards in a game. Price McKenzie leads the team with 433 yards on the ground, including a season-high of 98 against Denham Springs on Oct. 8, but the next highest single game total for any runner on the team is 78 yards.
Meanwhile, Jae Cutno has 36 catches for 560 yards and three touchdowns, Shedrick Davis has 34 for 518 and seven TDs and Gregg Morris has 11 for 152 and a TD. McKenzie also has 12 catches for 202 yards and three TDs, while Cutno is second on the team with 287 yards and five TDs rushing. Will Briscoe has 192 rushing yards and seven touchdowns.
“He looks like a veteran high school player who’s thrown a lot of passes,” said Hutson of the Wildcats QB. “His No. 1 target is his brother but really he’s got three or four good receivers.
“They do some (running plays) where they bring a receiver in motion, and they’ll pitch to him. Sometimes they’ll direct snap to the running back and the quarterback will run like he’s got the ball.”
But first and foremost, the Wildcats like to put the ball in the air. It’s helped Central earn a 9-1 record and the No. 4 seed in the Class 5A playoffs. Slowing down the CHS offense will be a two-fold challenge, said Hutson.
“One, we need to play defense with our offense by keeping them on the sideline if we can,” said Hutson. “We need to have some long, time-consuming drives.”
NISH, which went 7-3 in the regular season, counts on quarterback Jordy Joseph (1,513 yards, 16 TDs) to start its offense. New Iberia has had only one rusher with a 100-yard game itself. Desarie Sam leads the Jackets with 281 yards and four TDs on the ground, while Velot Khammany has 253 yards and 2 TDs and Tevin Archon has 242 yards and three touchdowns.
Dalario Austin leads NISH with 28 catches for 349 yards and two touchdowns and Jalen Jones has 22 for 275 yards and four TDs.
“The other thing is we need to create some turnovers,” said Hutson. “We need to be real aggressive when the ball is in the air. Maybe we can get some tipped passes.”
Defensively, Central runs a similar scheme to one the Jackets saw only last week. CHS defensive coordinator Doug Dotson, the son of former Acadiana High coach Bill Dotson, formerly coached at St. Thomas More, which topped NISH 13-0 in the final week of the regular season.
“They’re very sound defensively,” said Hutson. “I don’t think you can out-scheme them offensively, formation wise. You just hope your guys can play at a high level.”
Despite drawing one of the tougher teams in 5A to open the playoffs, Hutson said his team is excited.
“We’re excited to be in the playoffs three of the last four years,” said Hutson. “We’ll find out right off the bat where we stand.”
Advance-sale tickets are on sale $8 each until 1 p.m. Friday in front office at NISH. The game is at 7 p.m. at Central Middle School.
To get to the school, head to Baton Rouge on I-10 and then head north on I-110. Take the Harding Boulevard exit and turn right onto Harding, which becomes Hooper Road on the other side of Plank Road. The school is at the intersection of Hooper and Sullivan Road.
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