Northshore’s Panthers host the Fontainebleau Bulldogs at 7 p.m. Thursday in a District 7-5A clash.

The contest is homecoming for Northshore.

FHS (3-0) will try to stay undefeated after a 36-0 shutout of Hammond in its district opener last week. The Bulldogs have outscored their last two opponents, 67-0.

Fontainebleau'€™s Jordan Zulli (82) catches a pass during last Friday'€™s District 7-5A opener held at the Dawg Pound. (File Photo by Mike McCall)

The Panthers (2-1) are attempting to put last Friday’s, 19-18, loss to Ponchatoula behind them.

Northshore coach Mike Bourg described this contest as a “must win.”

“We have some tough tough games ahead of us and Fontainebleau is better than they were last year. We have to play a great game in order to win,” Bourg said.

The schools met last season with FHS coming out on top, 17-14, in an overtime contest.

Fontainebleau runs the Wing-T with quarterback Addison Melancon calling signals. Last week, Melancon hit on 7-of-10 passes for 102 yards, one touchdown and one interception.

FHS second-year coach Gregg Hudson said Melancon is improving.

“He’s playing a lot better, and he’s becoming the leader on offense,” Hudson said.

When Melancon looks to throw, he spreads the ball out as five different receivers have caught passes. Junior Tony Marigny tops the Bulldogs with six catches to go with 64 yards, while senior tight end Jordan Zulli has made five receptions and leads FHS with 80 yards and a touchdown. Junior running back Anthony LaGuardia has made four catches for 37 yards and a score.

The Bulldog running game is sparked by senior fullback Clay Fritscher. In last Friday’s victory, Fritscher ran 17 times for 135 yards and two touchdowns. On the season, he has 43 totes for 347 yards (8 yards per carry) and five scores.

FHS will be taking on a Northshore defense that blanked Ponchatoula in the first half of last week’s game. Coach Bourg said in last week’s game linebackers Taylor Eads, Chris Ruiz and Alex Black played well for the Panthers.

Offensively, the Panthers run a spread with junior quarterback Jervious Epherson, who has the ability to run and throw, calling signals. Last week, Epherson hit on 10-of-21 passes for 152 yards and a score while rushing for 63 yards on 18 carries.

This season, Epherson has 345 passing with two TDs. He has also run for 236 yards and three scores.

His main target is senior wide receiver Archie Ambo. Last week, the two hooked up six times for 107 yards and a 19-yard touchdown.

The running back is Channing Wise. In the loss, he had 19 carries for 140 yards and two scores. This season, Wise has chewed up 361 yards and has three TDs.

They will be facing a defense that hasn’t allowed a point in the last two games.

Senior lineman Gerald Gruenig leads FHS with 14 tackles, two assists, seven sacks and a fumble recovery.

Senior lineman Darrel Brown has nine tackles to go with four assists and six sacks.

Kris Rice has been in on 14 stops, five assists, one sack and two interceptions, and he has caused three fumbles and recovered one. Junior defensive back Spencer Ragas has made 10 tackles with two assists, but he also has scored twice, one on a pick and the other from a fumble recovery. Junior linebacker Thomas Babin has recorded 13 tackles, two assists and a sack.