Ouachita Christian rolls past Catholic of Pointe Coupee for Division IV title

NEW ORLEANS – When facing a favored program that has been there and done that, Catholic Pointe Coupee needed to play the near perfect game to have any shot at beating Ouachita Christian Friday afternoon.

Instead, the Hornets committed seven turnovers which proved fatal as the Eagles flew past Catholic 67-22 in the Division IV state championship game in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.

Will Fitzhugh led the turnover barrage, interception a pair of passes and forcing a fumble which resulted in a third turnover. He returned one of the interceptions 91 yards for a touchdown. Fitzhugh also caught a 61-yard pass and threw a 29-yard touchdown pass for scores on offense. The 91-yard interception for a touchdown was the longest in Division IV or Class 1A in the Allstate Sugar Bowl Prep Classic history.

Junior quarterback Hunter Herring did the rest, accounting for 345 yards and seven touchdowns in a brilliant performance. Herring completed 7-of-12 passes for 164 yards and three touchdowns and rushed 15 times for 180 yards and four touchdowns.

“It was about execution on both sides of the ball,” Herring said. “We knew possessions would not come very easy so we had to cherish every possession. We were able to get it done. I can’t even describe how it feels.”

On its second possession, Ouachita Christian drove 62 yards in five plays with Hunter Herring connecting with Eli Extine on a 20-yard touchdown pass and it was 6-0 4:20 to play in the first quarter. Extine later added a 10-yard touchdown reception.

The Hornets (13-1) answered immediately as Matthew Langlois broke loose down the right sideline for 65 yards and a touchdown and the extra point by Cameron Decoteau gave Catholic a 7-6 lead with 3:28 to play in the opening quarter.

That would be the last bright light of the afternoon for the Hornets as OCS exploded from that point forward to win in dominating fashion, scoring 47 unanswered points to put the game away.

It was 46-7 by halftime and the Eagles coasted to victory.

Langlois rushed 10 times for 94 yards and a touchdown and added a two point conversion and was named the Most Outstanding Player for Catholic. Aiden Vosburg completed 7-of-13 passes for 95 yards but suffered a pair of interceptions while Chayse Buriege also had a pass picked off by the Eagles.

It is the seventh state championship for Ouachita Christian but the first since 2014. It is the fifth title for OCS head coach Will Fitzhugh. The loss snapped an 8-game win streak for Catholic (11-3), playing in only its second state championship game and first since 1978.

Final
OCS 18 28 7 14 — 67
CPC 7 0 0 15 — 22

Scoring
1st Qtr.
OCS—Eli Extine, 20-yard pass from Hunter Herring (kick blocked)
CPC—Matthew Langlois, 65-yard run (Cameron Decoteau kick)
OCS—Will Fitzhugh, 61-yard pass from Hunter Herring (run failed)
OCS—Tristan Wiley, 29-yard pass from Will Fitzhugh (pass failed)

2nd Qtr.
OCS—Hunter Herring, 3-yard run (Samuel Harrell kick)
OCS—Hunter Herring, 33-yard run (Samuel Harrell kick)
OCS—Eli Extine, 10-yard pass from Hunter Herring (Samuel Harrell kick)
OCS—Hunter Herring, 15-yard run (Samuel Harrell kick)

3rd Qtr.
OCS—Will Fitzhugh, 91-yard interception return (Samuel Harrell kick)

4th Qtr.
CPC—Nick Carriere, 1-yard run (Matthew Langlois run)
OCS—Hunter Herring, 51-yard run (Samuel Harrell kick)
OCS—Landon Graves, 72-yard run (Samuel Harrell kick)
CPC—Micah Cifreo, 30 yard run (Cameron Decoteau kick)