Catholic edges Zachary in battle of champions with wild two-point conversion

BATON ROUGE – Memorial Stadium has seen its share of great players and classic games in its 66-year history.

Add Friday night’s contest between defending Division I champion Catholic High and defending Class 5A champ Zachary to that list.

In one of the most exciting games of the early season, Catholic High came back to defeat Zachary, 31-30 with a a dramatic two-point conversion. The Bears knocked off the Broncos for the second straight year.

Trailing 30-23 with 2:18 to play, Bears quarterback Cameron Dartez engineered the game-winning drive, taking his team 80 yards in nine plays. On the drive Dartez was 8-for-8 passing, including a 32-yard touchdown pass to Solomon Singleton with 15 seconds remaining.

He finished the game having completed 19 of his 23 pass attempts for 147 yards and one touchdown. He also ran nine times for 42 yards and another score.

Down by one, Bears head coach Gabe Fertitta made the call to go for two. As the ball was snapped, Dartez pitched to receiver Greg Martin on an end around. Martin appeared to have nowhere to go, but he found Forrest Roy alone in the back of the end zone.

The conversion put the Bears up 31-30, but Zachary still had one last shot to answer.

Catholic sent the kickoff out of bounds, giving the Broncos first and 10 from their 35 yard line and 15 seconds on the clock.

Zachary’s Keilon Brown misfired on his first two attempts, before connecting with Chandler Whitfield for a 12 yard gain. Unfortunately for the Broncos, time had expired by the time Whitfield hit the ground.

Brown gave a valiant effort in defeat, throwing for 239 yards and a pair of TDs, while rushing for 120 and one score on the ground.

As expected, this was an even matchup from the outset.

Zachary drew first blood after forcing the Bears into a three and out on their first possession. On second and 10 from his own 22 yard line, Brown dropped back and found Whitfield running free across the field. He hit his receiver in stride and Whitfield took it 78 yards for the score.

The Bears responded with a 10 play, 69 yard drive. Dartez went 5-for-5 for 44 yards to set up Joshua Parker, who ran it in from three yards out. The extra point was no good, leaving Zachary out in front 7-6.

Zachary made its first real miscue of the game early in the second quarter. After being pinned on their own one yard line by Matthew Goodson, the Broncos worked their way to the 33 yard line. But, Zachary would send a low snap to Brown that led to a loss of 13 yards. On the next play, Brown badly overthrew his receiver and Jonathan Mestayer picked it off, returning it 17 yards down to the Zachary 18.

Five plays later, Dartez ran up the middle for a one yard score to give Catholic a 13-7 advantage.

On the ensuing drive, Zachary pounded the Catholic defense. The Broncos went 80 yards in 16 plays, rushing it 11 times for 62 yards. RJ Allen went through a hole on the right side for a two yard score to put Zachary back in front, 14-13.

With time running out in the first half, Catholic got a huge kickoff return that gave them the ball at the Zachary 24 yard line. The Bears got down to the nine, before time caught up with them. Goodson nailed a 26 yard field goal to send CHS into the locker room up 16-14.

The Broncos started the second half as they had finished the first, with their offense humming. Brown led his team on another 80 yard drive. Zachary went back in front when he found Khris Simmons streaking down the sideline for a 33 yard score.

Zachary Head Coach David Brewerton decided to go for two but Brown’s pass to the left pylon was just out of reach of his receiver. That would prove to be critical as the lead sat at 20-16.

After Cole Cazenave misplayed a snap on a punt, the Broncos took over at the Catholic 34. But they gave the ball right back as Brown threw his second interception of the game.

Taking over on their own seven yard line, the Bears went 93 yards in eight plays. Parker did the heavy lifting with 50 yards on four carries, including a two yard touchdown that put Catholic back out in front 23-20 with 9:44 to play.

The Broncos responded with their fourth drive of at least 10 plays, going 75 yards to set up a 29 yard field goal attempt by Ethan Patrick O’Brien. The kick was good and the game was tied for the first time at 23 apiece with 2:28 remaining.

On the ensuing kickoff, Catholic fumbled and Zachary took over at the Bears’ 46 yard line. Brown would take it straight up the middle untouched for the score, giving the Broncos a 30-23 lead and setting up Dartez’s late game heroics.

Catholic (2-0) will have a very short time to savor the win since next week they host Division II champion University High (2-0). The Cubs dominated Southern Lab, 42-14, for their second impressive performance of the young season.

Meanwhile, Zachary (1-1) will look to bounce back at home against Madison Prep Academy (1-1).