And then there were four.  Three of the top four ranked division 5A teams have made it to the semifinals … and they are joined by our own 14th ranked Wildcats of Central!  Central knocked off #3 Brother Martin last week and #6 Acadiana tonight.  Next Friday #1 West Monroe plays #4 Barbe and Central travels to #2 Destrehan.  The winners of these two games meet the following week in the Superdome and play for the division 5A state championship.

Tonight’s game was as even as they come.  Central edged Acadiana in total yards 237 to 196, first downs 11-9, and time of posession 24:10 to 23:50.  The deciding factor may indeed have been turnovers, with Central having only one and Acadiana two, but the second one was the drive-ending and game-ending interception by Rovell Lee with 54 seconds left in the game.  Central then took a knee and ran the clock out for the win.  David Vest led the defense with 7 tackles, a half a sack and two tackles for a loss.  The statistics for tonight’s game and for the season can be seen by following these links:  GAME    SEASON 

I would also be overlooking one of Central’s most consistent contributors if I did not mention Mathew Thibodeaux.  On the season he is 4 for 5 on field goals and 37 of 38 on PAT’s.  His field goal, along with the rushing touchdown of Antonio Dunn, proved to be the winning margin tonight.

Several fans asked that we start a forum where fans can post their comments on the game, the team, the season and the upcoming game.  Follow this link to read what others have to say and to contribute your own comments:  CHS Football Forum

Remember to make plans to travel to Destrehan next Friday.  We took what seemed to be 2,000 fans to Brother Martin, so lets fill up Destrahan’s stadium and support the Cats in the Quest For The Superdome.  We will post details on tickets as wll as directions to the stadium later this next week.

Enjoy a few pics of tonight’s event.  I call it an event because it was much more than a game.  The stands, every one of them including the end-zone, were packed and the sense of community spirit was huge.  I hope for these pics help those of you who missed the game to get a small taste of the occasion.

CentralSpeaks.com is committed to keeping Central informed concerning progress toward solving the issue of inadequate and deteriorating school buildings. Click this link:    Schools@CentralSpeaks.com    and type in the message “send me updates” to receive an e-mail whenever new information is available on this effort.  You will receive a confirmation e-mail within 24 hours.  We also encourage you to forward the confirmation e-mail to everyone in your address book from Central.  Imagine the positive effect of the ability to give information to thousands of Central residents regarding the progress of this effort.  This project is probably the single most important issue that will face our city in the next 20 years.  Help us get connected with the people of Central so that we find the best possible course of action for this effort.

This process begins in December with a steering committee reviewing the work done in the first effort which was defeated at the polls.  The goal is to determine the will of the citizens of Central and to put a plan together that gives our children quality educational facilities in a manner which the taxpayers of Central can support.

CentralSpeaks.com believes that getting information out to the public is a key component in this process.  Equally important is the need to receive input from the people of Central who will ultimately pay the bill for our children’s educational needs.  We encourage you to send in your comments and ideas by e-mailing to  Schools@CentralSpeaks.com

This Friday night at 7PM the Central Wildcat football team will square off against Acadiana in the quarterfilnals of the Louisiana High School State Championship. Not since the 70’s has Central made it this far in the playoffs. The event will be memorable so make your plans to help us fill Wildcat Stadium.

Central began the playoffs ranked #14 and now is one of eight teams still standing. Acadiana is ranked #6. Central defeated #19 West Jefferson and #3 Brother Martin to get here. The game will also be televised by Cox Sports on cable channel 37.

Hello CHS supporters,

We are in great need for help in the concession stand this Friday night. If you don’t want to work the whole game, we also have split shifts 5:00 – 7:15 and then 7:15 – 9:30pm. If you are willing to help, we are in great need, so please let me know asap.

Also, we are in need of sandwiches, fruit, veggies or other snacks for the press box. These can be delivered to the very top press box whenever you arrive.

Thanks so much for your help for the big game. We’re all very excited about our Cats! They really play their best when the fans are behind them, so come on out and support them this Friday night. Happy Thanksgiving to all!

Go Wildcats!
Edie J. Myer
CHS PTO
Cell 413-2161
ejmyer@cox.net
www.chspto.org

Clarification on the Christmas Parade:

Bake Sale goodies may be dropped off on Friday any time during school hours at CHS – we will have someone to receive the food. You may also drop off at Margaret Chair’s home, 11268 Gate Way Dr (261-5001). You may also bring the goodies to CMS on Saturday morning – preferably before the parade begins at 10:00 a.m.

We do need help receiving food on Friday morning beginning at 7:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. If you can help with this, please let us know. We would like to work this in 2 hour shifts, but if you can stay longer, please let us know.

BAKE SALE

Setup begins at 8:00 a.m. – since the parade starts at 10:00. After that we’ll be working until we’re sold out (hope we have LOTS of goodies & sell out early!!) most likely finishing up around 4 or 5 in the afternoon. If you can help Saturday, again, we’ll likely work in two hour shifts – or just as long or little as you can.

If your items can be packaged to be sold individually, that would be great – but of course, we also welcome whole pies, cakes, etc. as well. Please sure to let us know if you can help or will be donating goodies.

Thank you so much,
Margaret Chair
CHS PTO President
(225) 315-7285
(225) 261-5001
margaret.chair@gmail.com

It was like watching the end of a Hollywood sports flick. Brother Martin attempts a field goal from the Central 18 yard line with less than 5 seconds remaining to win the game 10-7. CENTRAL BLOCKS THE KICK!!!!! CENTRAL PICKS UP THE BALL AND RUNS 82 YARDS FOR THE WINNING TOUCHDOWN!!!! Truly a storybook ending. And maybe it is appropriate to start seeing Central in the familiar storybook role of Cinderella.

Eight teams remain in the 5A state playoffs and three games from now two of these eight will meet in the Superdome to play for State. Seven of the eight remaining teams started the playoffs ranked 11th or better and five of the remaining 8 were ranked in the top 6. Central was ranked at #14. Knocking off number 3 Brother Martin is indeed a Cinderella story, especially since the game-winning touchdown occurred with no time remaining. Now for a reality check: for Central the dance gets no easier next Friday when #6 Acadiana travels to Wildcat Stadium to take on Central.

The Wildcat Nation travelled well tonight. It looked like there were more fans from Central than there were from the home team Brother Martin. It seemed there must have been well over a thousand Wildcat fans going crazy as the winning touchdown was scored. With a home game next week, plan on packing Wildcat Stadium with a record crowd.

Defense and Special Teams indeed carried the night for Central.  Sean Brown, Stacy Osezemwinde and Zack Pourciau combined for 22 tackles, 22 assists, 1.5 sacks and 3 tackles for a loss.  Josh Johns racked up an interception and two blocked field goals, including the key block on the final play, which Josh Veals returned for the winning TD.  Antonio Dunn scored on a “Hook and Ladder” trick play with Thibodeaux adding the PAT.  The cold weather seems to have caused the Wildcats hands problems and all but shut down the offense, leading to several dropped passes, interceptions and fumbles.  However, it is a team game and the special teams and defence stepped up and did the job.

The Stats can be found at the following links:  GAME    SEASON

Stats and possibly Video will be added to this article later tonight or tomorrow.

Here are picture sequences of three key plays: a blocked field goal, an interception, and the game-winning blocked fieldgoal and resulting touchdown.

 And here are a few other pictures giving you a feel for the evening:

 Here is the article posted tonight on Nola.com:

Baton Rouge Central stuns Brother Martin
Pierce W. Huff, November 21, 2008 10:58 p.m.

The Brother Martin fans, players and coaches stood motionless in the cold at Joe Yenni Stadium moments after Baton Rouge Central defeated the Crusaders 13-7 in a Class 5A regional playoff game. This wasn’t the way the Brother Martin faithful expected their season to end.

Before the last play in the game, overtime seemed as certain as frostbite on Friday. Then, Brother Martin lined up for Michael Harrision to kick a 35-yard field goal on the last play of regulation.

It had not been a good game for the Crusaders special teams. Brother Martin had a punt blocked in the first half. Harrison was short on a field goal and had another kick blocked. Then, bad luck struck again. Central senior Josh Johns blocked Harrison’s kick. Junior Josh Veals picked up the loose ball and raced 70 yards for a touchdown with the last 10 yards coming with half of the Wildcats team sprinting behind him.

When Veals reached the end zone the Central sidelines erupted and Brother Martin’s collective hearts were broken. “I was praying that we could block a field goal again,” Veals said. “All I was thinking was don’t get caught from behind..”

When it was over Central Coach Sid Edwards was awestruck. The Wildcats (10-1) will play the Rummel-Acadiana winner in the Class 5A regionals. “I’m speechless,” Edwards said.

Brother Martin Coach Jay Pittman said he didn’t have any second thoughts about calling for the kick. “I was trying to win the game,” Pittman said. Pittman said he was thinking about trying to pull Central offsides before the kick, and that’s the only thing he regrets not doing. Pittman said he did not want the game to go to overtime.

Edwards said he was proud of the way Central players fought during the game. Central led 7-0 when it scored a 75-yard touchdown on a hook-and-ladder play in the second quarter. Facing third and 27 at its 25-yard line, Wildcats quarterback Will Briscoe threw a 10-yard pass to receiver Shedrick Davis, who pitched a lateral to running back Antonio Dunn, who ran 65 yards down the sidelines for a touchdown with 9:58 remaining in the first half.

Central had a chance to add to its lead when defensive end Sean Brown recovered a fumble at the Brother Martin 26-yard line with 9:38 left. But the Brother Martin defense held Central to two yards on the next four plays.

Brother Martin (9-1) then drove 75 yards on nine plays for a touchdown to tie the score at 7 with 3:58 remaining. Crusaders quarterback Garrett Bean threw a 56-yard touchdown pass to receiver Kevin Bohte, who was wide open by 25 yards after sneaking behind the Baton Rouge Central secondary.

Brother Martin had a chance to score on the last play of the first half when it drove 39 yards on six plays to the Central 19-yard line. But Crusaders kicker Michael Harrison missed short on a 36-yard field goal at the first half buzzer.

Brother Martin had a chance to take the lead when it drove 55 yards to the Central 12-yard line in the fourth quarter. But Johns blocked a 30-yard field goal by Harrison with 9:31 remaining in the game.

“I thought our defense was spectacular,” Edwards said.

Pierce W. Huff can be reached at phuff@timespicayune.com or 504.826.3809.

The Wildcats compete in the second week of the State Playoffs tomorrow night in against Brother Martin in Metairie. Game time is 7:00 and the location is Yenni Stadium at 400 Phlox Ave. in Metairie. Pass the airport on I-10, get off at Clearview headed south, go just over a mile and cross W. Metarie Ave, take the next right on Prince street and you will dead end into Phlox at the stadium. Not sure how traffic flow will work and looks like parking is going to be interesting so come early. Tickets are $7 in advance at CHS until noon Friday, then $8 at the stadium.

Make the road trip and support CHS football. A win Friday gives Central a game vs the Acadiana/Rummel winner, possibly at home in Wildcat Stadium.

The Central Community Alliance (CCA) held a special holiday “Taste Fair” at their monthly forum this evening. Just in time for the holidays, there were demonstrations on how to prepare “Holiday Foods” presented by four Louisiana chefs. The event was well attended and all who had the foresight to be there were treated to a meal of the amazing dishes prepared by the chefs.

Glen Bergeron, who is credited with selling the first fried turkeys, prepared fried turkey which was tasty and juicy. He also shared his recipe for Turkey Marinade Injection, and has allowed us to publish it for you to try.

1 Stick Oleo
1/4 cup Tony’s Seasoning
2 Tbsp Worcestershire Sauce
2 Tbsp Hot Sauce (Cajun Chef preferred)
1/2 Tsp Black Pepper
1 Tsp Garlic Granulate
1 Tsp Onion Powder
1 Tsp MSG
1 Cup Water

Melt oleo, stir in all ingredients except water, add water and cook on medium heat 15 minutes.

Fry a 12 to 14# turkey between 275 and 300 degrees for 50 minutes.

The CCA is a “Community Forum” which meets on the third Tuesday of each month, and welcomes Central Citizens to attend, join, and participate. The Sponsors for tonight’s event were G. M. Cable, Carlton Catering, and Atchafalaya Crawfish Processing.

Enjoy a few pictures from tonight’s event: