Erath Bobcats eliminated from playoffs by Union Parish

ERATH – The Erath Bobcats’ unblemished season and hopes for a deep playoff run came to an end Friday night as they fell to the Union Parish Farmers 14-9 at Robert J. Segura Memorial Stadium.
 The Bobcats (11-1) outgained the Farmers 360 yards to 125, including 210 to 51 on the ground.  They ran 83 plays and picked up 22 first downs compared to 28 and five for Union Parish.  But a blocked punt, a long pass, and a bend-but-don’t-break defense proved to be too much for Erath to overcome.
“Union Parish hasn’t missed a semifinal in probably six years,” said Erath head coach Eric LeBlanc.  “We knew they were going to be in the game the whole time.  It was going to be a test.
“I have to give credit to the seniors.  They fought their tails off on that field.  We gave ourselves a chance down there at the end, but it didn’t go our way this time.”
 Trailing by five with 3:02 to play, Erath took over at its own 17-yard line.  On third down, quarterback Jack Landry found tight end Landen DeRouen, who rumbled all the way to the 48-yard line.  Running back Jahlil Charles then took the handoff and carried tacklers down to the Farmer’s 36-yard line.
Three plays later on fourth and eight, the Bobcats went to the bag of tricks.  Receiver Talen Landry took the handoff on a reverse and threw a pass to quarterback Jack Landry for a gain of 13 yards and a first down at the 21-yard line.
 With 16 ticks remaining on the clock, Jack Landry dropped back to pass.  As the Farmers’ pass rush closed in, Landry rolled to his right.  Then disaster struck.
 “I felt pressure on my left side,” Landry said.  “I rolled out to extend the play.  When I went to throw, I got hit on the backside, and they got a hand on the ball.”
 Union Parish recovered the fumble with seven seconds left in the game to end any chance of a miracle ending.
  In the face of a loss in his final game at Erath, Landry continued to lead.  His message to the underclassmen explained why the Bobcats had such a successful season.
  “It’s the art of nothing,” Landry continued.  “You don’t deserve anything.  You have to earn everything.  You earn respect.  You earn victory.  That’s what I’ve lived by the last four years and what I’ll live by for the rest of my life.”
Union Parish broke a scoreless tie late in the first quarter after they blocked a punt that set them up deep in Erath territory.  Quarterback Braxton Patterson kept it himself around the left side for a 19-yard touchdown run and a 7-0 Farmers’ lead.
 Following their second turnover-on-downs deep inside Farmers’ territory, the Bobcats finally broke through with a drive that took 7:30 off the clock.  Aiden Bourque plunged in from the one-yard line to make it 7-6 with 1:49 left in the first half.
Union Parish answered in 47 seconds when Patterson connected with a streaking Terance Wallace, Jr. for a 77-yard touchdown pass.  The quick strike gave the Farmers a 14-6 halftime advantage.
 After stopping Union Parish on its first possession of the second half, Erath went on a marathon drive that took 10:41 off the clock.  They took over at their own 28-yard line with 8:30 remaining in the third quarter.  On play 21 of the drive, Carlos Arellano booted a 22-yard field goal to make it 14-9 with 9:49 left in the fourth quarter to set up the final drive.
 Jack Landry finished 15-of-24 for 137 yards through the air.  He also added 38 yards on 12 carries on the ground and 13 yards receiving.  Talen Landry caught five passes for 50 yards and completed one pass for 13 yards.  Charles had 75 yards rushing on 14 carries and another 32 yards receiving on four catches.  Bourque finished with 64 yards and a touchdown on 23 carries while also adding 15 yards receiving on two catches.  Landon LeMaire rushed six times for 34 yards while DeRouen caught three balls for 43 yards.

Even though the Bobcats fell short of their ultimate goal, LeBlanc is very proud of everything his team accomplished this season.  He’s especially proud of the senior class and the legacy they’re leaving at Erath.
  “As coaches, we try to push standards and expectations,” LeBlanc said.  “But when the seniors do it, it means a hell of a lot more to their teammates than it ever would coming from a coach.  This senior class did that more than any other class before them.  We talk a lot about what they’re going to leave behind.  I hope that’s their legacy. 
‘To say I’m proud of these guys is an understatement.  They’re a special group.  I wanted something more for them tonight.”