Sports

The Erath Bobcats racked up 235 yards of offense en route to a 14-7 win over the Class 2A Lake Arthur Tigers Thursday in the Acadia/Vermilion parish jamboree.
Bobcat quarterback Luke LeBlanc, who threw for 2,000 yards last year, began where he left off. On Thursday, he completed 11 out of 18 passes for 157 yards.
He threw to eight different receivers. Two had three catches.
Ian Harrington had three catches for 33 yards, and Gabe Primeaux had three catches for 21 yards.

Starting in tonight’s jamborees, high school coaches, players, and fans will have to get used to playing with the new 40-second play clock.
In conjunction with the National Federation of High Schools, the LHSAA has adopted a 40-second play clock; like the ones used in college and the pros, in place of the traditional 25-second clock.
Surrounding states are also adopting the new 40-second clock.
Before, the clock stopped until an official spotted the ball following an offensive play.
Now, the 40-second clock restarts as soon as the play is whistled dead.

(Darryl Richardelle is an 18-year veteran high school football official here in Louisiana, freelance writer, and occasional contributor to the Abbeville Meridional.)
The 2019 high school football season will feature rules changes noticeable to fans. A 40-second play clock and redefined requirements for a legal scrimmage formation are among the most significant.