Boast, Port Barre bring running game to Mamou

Photo by: Bruce Campbell

By: LANCE REED
Sports Editor

After a high-scoring and high-powered offensive game, the challenge this week is for Mamou to repeat that performance. It will take that kind of effort and even bigger effort on defense for the Demons to pull off an upset of the Port Barre Red Devils (3-1). Port Barre is coming off of a 24-6 victory over the Westminster Crusaders, a team that defeated Mamou two weeks ago.

Port Barre literally ran all over the Crusaders in week five. The Red Devils piled up 332 yards on the ground with a big chunk of it coming from tailback Dexter Boast. The Red Devils tried to show they have an equivalent of Mamou’s Robert Walker. Boast, a show stopper, gathered up 285 yards and scored all three touchdowns. The Demons have to take Boast out of the game. The senior has been carrying the ball since his freshman days at Port Barre High School. When he has a good game, the Red Devils have a good game. He, like Walker, usually dictates how the Red Devils do. Boast broke runs of 31, 87, and 78 yards for scores last week.

Mamou piled up over 500 yards of total offense against Northwest High School. While the Raiders are similar to the Red Devils in size, the two teams are very different in terms of athleticism.

The Demons piled up 51 points and did it in many different ways. From special teams to defense, Mamou found enough ways to put points on the board and get the victory. While Walker’s 461 yards set a new school rushing record for a single game and opened the eyes of anyone who did not believe in Walker’s ability, the offensive line’s performance cannot be forgotten. The O-line did a tremendous job and they were the silent superstars of the game.

This week, the Demons will have to contend to with the seven-diamond defense of Port Barre. A defense that has yielded less than seven points in three out its four ball games. The PBHS defense is one of the best in Class 2A. There are eight starters back from the 2007 team. The entire front seven are back and most of them are three-year starters. Three juniors and a senior makes up the defensive line. Defensive end Matt Romar (6-0, 210, Jr.), DE Clarence Vedell (6-1, 220, Jr.), DT Donovan Mallett (5-10, 265, Jr.), and DT Raymond Hinchee (5-9, 245, Sr.) provide lots of stability for the Red Devils. They also dare an opponent to run the ball.

There are three linebackers that come back this year for the Red Devils. Linebacker Devin Ansley (6-2, 230, Jr.), LB Caleb Duplechain (6-2, 180, Sr.), LB Brandon Deville (5-8, 170, Sr.) make up a trio that has the ability to play at normal linebacker position or put their hands on the ground and play as defensive linemen. The trio are in their second year working together against opposing offenses.

Mamou could find some success throwing the ball. The defensive secondary is filled with new guys, with the exception of Boast, who plays free safety. Like most of the other seniors, Boast has been the starter since his freshman year.

The Port Barre offense puts up an average of 24 points per game. There are eight starters back on this year’s squad. Along with Boast, some of the weapons include wide receiver Dustin Mistric. The third-year starter helps to give Port Barre good balance with a passing game. Several of the linemen turn around and go both ways. Duplechain, Mallet and Hinchee join junior center Derek Verette and senior offensive guard Brandon Jaque to form the trench warriors. However, senior offensive tackle Alonzo Manuel is a heavily-recruited O-lineman by many division one schools. Manuel (6’3” 260 pounds) is by far the best blocker on the PBHS squad. Many of the Red Devils’ runs come from his side.

The Mamou defense will have its hands full for the most part. Port Barre has become very good at putting together long, slow drives that literally wear out an opponent. It will be a challenge for the MHS defense to try and get the PBHS offense off the field as quickly as possible.

The Demons are hard to beat at home. That’s one advantage they have. They must get the ball in the offenses’ hands as much as possible. The more quarterback Alex Vidrine and company have a chance to score, the more the Demons have a chance to win the contest. Boast has to be left grounded. This contest should be interesting and will have implications on the eventual outcome of the defense. Kickoff is slated for tomorrow night at 7 p.m. at Mamou High School.