Joshua Gast and Jacob Carruth are not household coaching names among high school football fans in the area. That could change, depending on what happens Thursday night.
“The thing I am most proud of with this group is the resiliency they show,” said Catholic-Pointe Coupee’s Carruth, whose team is 7-0, 3-0 in District 5-1A. “In weeks 3, 4 and 5 we trailed at halftime, with a big 26-point deficit Week 5 against Livonia.
“Our guys have never backed down. They just keep playing. They go all out, one play at a time. I expect the same this week.”
The Hornets, ranked fifth in the LSWA Class 1A football poll, host No. 10 St. Edmund (7-0, 4-0) with the district title hanging in the balance.
Game time is set for 7 p.m. at NRG Field in New Roads.
Meanwhile, Gast and North Iberville (6-1, 1-1) travel to Donaldsonville at take on third-ranked Ascension Catholic (5-1, 2-0) in a crucial District 8-1A contest at Boutte Stadium also set for 7 p.m.
“We know this is a huge challenge for us,” Gast said. “We’re going to go out, put our best foot forward. Regardless of what happens, this will be an important experience for this team.
“Ascension Catholic is a team that always makes a deep run in the playoffs. We know this will help prepare us for the postseason.”
Gast, 34, and Carruth, 28, are two potential rising stars in the coaching ranks. How each team handles the specific parameters of their marquee matchup is worth watching.
No one knew what to expect from North Iberville when the season started. It is the Bears’ first varsity season in 15 years following two years of carefully planned subvarsity play.
Ascension Catholic has a rising young coach of its own in former St. James, LSU and Texas-San Antonio quarterback Lowell Narcisse. The Bulldogs also have one of the area’s most dynamic players in senior running back Chad Elzy.
Elzy enters the game with 1,009 yards rushing and is averaging 10.1 yards per carry with 19 total touchdowns. Gast points out that Elzy also is a difference-maker on defense and special teams.
North Iberville, an underclassmen-laden team, lost its first game last week, 44-43 to White Castle after leading much of the way. Jeremy Favorite has 780 yards rushing and Justice Roy has passed for 1,128 yards and 13 TDs.
Catholic-PC expects an even matchup with the Bluejays, who beat reigning district champion Opelousas Catholic in Week 5 to shake up the 5-1A race.
In contrast to the run-oriented attack of the Hornets, St. Edmund quarterback Kane West is averaging 26.7 yards per completion with 1,232 yards and 23 TDs. Parker Jewell leads CHSPC with 683 yards rushing and 12 TDs.