Rummel scores late to edge Slidell, 12-11

One team had played a game while the other had not.

The difference was palpable for much of the game.

With the game on the line, the team playing its first game found a way to get it done.

Sophomore Jaidyn Martin scored on a 7-yard run with 1:35 to play in the game to lift Archbishop Rummel to a 12-11 win over Slidell at Lakeshore High School Thursday night in a game heard live on 106.1 FM.

The run capped a six play, 17-yard drive, set up by a 23-yard punt return by Ashton Stamps after the Raider defense got continuous stops in the second half.

The Tigers got the ball one final time with excellent field position at their own 46-yard line with 1:27 remaining and two timeouts but four straight passes by Luke Guidry fell incomplete.

The Raider defense kept its team in the game throughout.

In the fourth quarter, Rummel allowed just four total yards to Slidell.

The Tigers got the only points of the first half, driving 83 yards in 14 plays, 7:36 off the clock with Luke Guidry connecting with Jayden Averhart on a 27-yard touchdown pass. Tamaj Hoffman ran in the 2-point conversion and it was 8-0 with 8:21 to play in the half.

Slidell increased the lead to 11-0 with 7:46 to play in the third quarter, driving 57 yards in seven plays with Mia Decker kicking a 25-yard field goal.

Rummel finally broke through, driving 60 yards in six plays with Casey Avrard hitting Nicholas Howard with a 9-yard touchdown pass and it was 11-6 with 5:49 to play in the third quarter, following a failed 2-point conversion attempt.

The Raiders had a chance in the fourth quarter after recovering a fumble, reaching the Slidell 19-yard line but fumbled it right back to the Tigers.

That set the stage for the winning drive by Rummel.

Martin rushed 13 times for 76 yards and a touchdown while Avrard completed 13-of-33 passes for 116 yards and a touchdown and rushed nine times for 60 yards.

Guidry paced the Tigers, completing 8-of-23 passes for 181 yards and a touchdown but the Raiders held Slidell to just 78 yards rushing.

Despite the win, Raiders coach Nick Monica was less than enthusiastic about his team’s performance.

“I think that one of the few positives of the night is we got out with a win,” Monica said. “Obviously, there is a lot to watch and fix and correct and a lot of simple things that have nothing to do with the storm affecting us. Hopefully, this kind of jump starts us and helps us get ready for next week. I thought the effort was good on defense and I thought we ran to the ball well. We knew their back was really good.”

There is clear room for improvement.

“We could have played a little better,” Monica said. “ We have to improve on our tackling. Penalties hurt on offense, especially pre-snap penalties. We played the third and fourth quarter on their side of the field but penalties and negative plays hurt. Those are all things we have to learn from and get better.”

The Slidell defense did an excellent job all night but found itself on the field a ton in the fourth quarter.

Both teams return to action next Friday night Slidell (0-2) will open District 6-5A play at St. Paul’s while Rummel (1-0) will host defending Division IV state champion Calvary Baptist at Joe Yenni Stadium.

FINAL
Rummel 0 0 6 6 — 12
Slidell 0 8 3 0 — 11

Scoring:
2nd Qtr.
SLI—Jayden Averhart, 27-yard pass from Luke Guidry (Tamaj Hoffman run)

3rd Qtr.
SLI—Mia Decker, 25-yard field goal
RUM—Nicholas Howard, 9-yard pass from Casey Avrard (pass failed)

4th Qtr.
RUM—Jaidyn Martin,

First Downs:
Rummel 18, Slidell 11

Penalties:
Rummel 6 for 62 yards, Slidell 7 for 60 yards

Sacks:
Rummel 1, Slidell 0

Turnovers:
Rummel 1, Slidell 1

Rushing Yards:
Rummel 164, Slidell 78

Passing Yards:
Rummel 116, Slidell 181

Total Yards:
Rummel 280, Slidell 259

Individual Rushing:
Rummel—Jaidyn Martin 13 carries for 75 yards and 1 touchdown, Casey Avrard 9 carries for 60 yards, La’Damion McDowell 6 carries for 29 yards

Slidell—Keyshon Pittman 14 carries for 26 yards, Tamaj Hoffman 11 carries for 36 yards, Luke Guidry 7 carries for 13 yards, Blaine Suprean 1 carry for 3 yards

Individual Passing:
Rummel—Casey Avrard 13-of-33 for 116 yards and 1 touchdown

Slidell—Luke Guidry 8-of-23 for 181 yards and 1 touchdown

Individual Receiving:
Rummel—Cameron Francioni 4 catches for 43 yards, Nicholas Howard 4 catches for 24 yards and 1 touchdown, Evan Catoire 1 catch for 21 yards, Nathan Mocklin 2 catches for 16 yards, Xavier Powell 1 catch for 12 yards

Slidell—Tamaj Hoffman 2 catches for 72 yards and 1 touchdown, Jayden Averhart 3 catches for 49 yards and 1 touchdown, Keyshon Pittman 2 catches for 38 yards, Austin Bates 1 catch for 21 yards

THURSDAY NIGHT SCORES IN LOUISIANA HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL

Albany 36, Springfield 14
Ascension Catholic 30, Archbishop Hannan 8
Archbishop Rummel 12, Slidell
Baker 54, Collegiate (BR) 0
Booker T. Washington 24, McMain 8
Brother Martin 8, East Ascension 7
Byrd 24, Maumelle (ARK) 21
Capitol 37, Thrive Academy 6
Donaldsonville 46, White Castle 6
Franklin 20, Berwick 7
Lake Arthur 12, Elton 6
Northside at West St. Mary
Patterson 41, Central Catholic 18
St. James 41, Landry 26
University High 35, Dunham 0
Welsh 28, Hamilton Christian 14
West St. Mary 48, Northside 35