South Lafourche Outlasts H.L Bourgeois in Jamboree 20-14

Written by Kyle Valdez

In the first game of the TGMC Community Sports Institute High School Jamboree, the H.L. Bourgeois Braves hosted the South Lafourche Tarpons. Despite trailing the whole game, the Tarpons hung tough and found a way to win.

In HLB’s opening drive of the game, junior Jordan Rainey got off to a quick start with a 50 yard pass, followed by a 13-yard pass to freshman Demarcus Singleton to take a 7-0 lead just 3 minutes into the game. Although there were multiple turnovers throughout, neither team scored the ball until South Lafourche at the 1:13 mark in the first half.
After converting on a crucial 4th and 5, the Tarpons set themselves up inside the Braves’ 1 yard line. The following play, sophomore Patrick Gisclair ran the ball to tie up the game 7-7 going into halftime.

To start the second half, junior Rontrell Holmes recovered and returned a fumble to give the Braves a 14-7 lead just 47 seconds into the half. At the 7:57 mark, the Tarpons evened the score when Gislcair found senior tight end Eric Thibodaux. In the last 5:23 of the game, there were 5 possession changes

With 4 seconds left on the clock, and HLB’s setting up for a 39-yard field for junior Rodney Bouvier, the HLB offense was called for a penalty and moved 10 yards back. Coach Fournier took the kicking team off the field and gave Jordan Rainey one last opportunity for the win. However, it also gave the Tarpons’ defense another opportunity.  On the final play of the game, South Lafourche’s Jake Pitre intercepted Rainey’s last second hail marry attempt and returned the ball 85 yards for the pick-6, to go ahead 20-14 as time expired.

“They (HLB) gave me an opportunity to make a play by throwing the ball up. I was in the right spot at the right time, read the quarterback… I had some good blocks, made a couple people miss, and I just saw open field” said Pitre. ​

South Lafourche head coach Blake Forsythe said, “In 15 jamborees, I’ve never seen anything happen like this….that’s about one of the most insane finishes that i can think of. A great football game between two teams… A really great game, great work for both sides.”

For a game that felt like HLB was in strong control for a majority of the game, they still dropped a tough one. Fortunately, it was just a jamboree and their record is still 0-0. Coach Fournier has many bright spots to take away from the scrimmage. Going into next week, they get an opportunity to fix their errors and show off their young talented roster against South Terrebonne at The Swamp.

Although South Lafourche won in dramatic fashion, their record is also 0-0. After finishing the season at 2-8 last year, the attitude and expectations must be elevated. They also showed off a much improved defense. After giving up nearly 32 points per game last year, they held HLB to just one offensive touchdown, and shut them out for the final 27 minutes of the scrimmage. Next Friday, the Tarpons get another chance to prove themselves against a very quality opponent in St. Charles Catholic for their home opener matchup