Episcopal finishes unbeaten, wins 8-2A title with shutout of Port Allen

PORT ALLEN – Episcopal made history Friday night, completing the first back-to-back undefeated regular seasons in school history with a 28-0 victory over Port Allen.

The win also gave the Knights (9-0, 5-0) the District 8-2A outright title and the school’s first-ever back-to-back district championships.

Port Allen (6-4, 3-2), which could have forced a three-way tie with Episcopal and Dunham for the district title with a victory, played Episcopal to a scoreless standoff in the first 24 minutes.

Episcopal’s Dryden Duggins returned the second-half kickoff 83 yards for a touchdown to break the deadlock. After a three-and-out by the Episcopal defense, the Knights struck again on their first play from scrimmage with a 44-yard touchdown pass from Lewis Ward to Cooper Braud.

“In the end, in these types of games, big time players make big time plays,” said Port Allen coach Don Gibson. “We have to be able to make those plays, so we’re gonna go back and take a look at things that need to get fixed next week before the playoffs.”

Braud, who also serves as the backup quarterback, added a 1-yard touchdown run late in the third quarter, increasing the Knights advantage to 21-0. Ward was lined up in shotgun formation and turned toward the Episcopal sideline as Braud came in motion, went under center and took the snap.

Episcopal’s final score came on a 10-yard run from Thomas D’Armond in the fourth quarter, capping a 12-play, 63-yard drive that took more than seven minutes off the clock.

The first half was a true heavyweight fight with both teams feeling each other out, putting together long drives with zero points to show.

Port Allen missed the biggest opportunity as Pelicans running back Titus Winfield coughed up the ball on the Episcopal 1-yard line at the end of a 12-play, 80-yard drive that used nearly six minutes.

“We knew Port Allen was going to be a tremendous challenge,” said Episcopal coach Travis Bourgeois, whose team has won 20 consecutive regular-season games dating back to October 2019. “We told our kids all week that they were going to be in situations they haven’t seen in a while. It’s just weathering the storm and trusting yourself.”

Episcopal will enter the Division III playoffs with a first-round bye and the likely No. 4 seed. Port Allen, which started the night No. 11 in the Class 2A power ratings, still is expected to host a first-round playoff game.