Mandeville’s Skippers (7-1, 5-1) have charted a steady course this season based on a stingy defense. Mandeville travels to Covington (4-4, 3-3) tonight to battle the Lions at Jack Salter Stadium with the Skippers controlling their own fate for an outright District 6-5A title with a victory.

Covington has a playoff berth on the line as well. A Lions’ victory would put them in the playoffs, and they wouldn’t have to worry about getting help from anybody else.

MHS edged Northshore 14-7 last week to set the stage for tonight’s battle, while Covington came up short falling 9-7 to St. Paul’s in a defensive struggle.

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The Skippers’ defense has turned in a consistent performance this season registering four shutouts only allowing 60 points, giving up just 7.5 points per game.

Mandeville coach Guy LeCompte said the defense’s strong play has carried his team to this point in the season.

MHS senior free safety Michael Crain leads the Skippers’ defense with 74 tackles (37 unassisted, 37 assisted).

He has scored a touchdown on a fumble recovery, and has also forced a fumble.

In last week’s victory over Northshore, Crain was in on 11 tackles, five of which were unassisted. Senior linebacker Hayden Harper, who is the Skippers’ second leading tackler has 27 solo stops, 26 assists and five tackles for losses. Harper posted six individual tackles last week.

Senior cornerback Jerry Mitchell picked off a pass last week in the fourth quarter to help preserve the Skippers’ victory as the Panthers had moved the ball down to the Mandeville 29-yard line. Mitchell leads the team with four interceptions.

MHS’ other senior cornerback Kody Keowen also turned in a strong game last week with five primary tackles, and he defended three passes. “Our secondary game up big for us when we needed them to,” LeCompte said.

Mandeville’s running game had struggled for a couple of weeks, but senior Will Bunns took care of things last week, rushing for 200 yards on 28 carries. He tallied on a 14 yard run, and hauled in a 24-yard scoring pass from senior quarterback Andy Bertoniere.

Bertoniere connected on 8-of-19 passes for 148 yards last week.

He is 67-for-118 on the year for 1,023 yards with six TDs and three interceptions. Senior tight end Brandon Weeden tops the Skippers with 27 catches for 431 yards and four touchdowns. Sophomore Elijah Levee´ has 26 receptions totaling 306 yards. Bunns, who played most of the year as a slot back, has 23 catches for 391 yards with three scores.

LeCompte said Bunns did a tremendous job running the ball against Northshore with the Skippers’ offensive line coming up big.

“The O-line took care of business against a good Northshore defense,” LeCompte said. “We were able to re-establish our running game. We had two previous poor games, trying to run the ball. The line improved, and gave him (Bunns) some running lanes. He hit the holes quick, and made good decisions, once he was past the line of scrimmage.”

LeCompte said his club is in position to win the outright district title.

“You want to enter the playoffs riding some momentum so we have to be prepared against a good Covington team,” LeCompte added.

Malter Scobel, Covington’s first-year head coach, who has helped put his Lions in playoff contention, described Mandeville as a quality team, the best in the district.

“They have two big play makers in Bunns and Weeden so we have to be prepared to stop them,” Scobel said.

“Mandeville doesn’t give up a lot of points. Their defense has played very well throughout the season.”

CHS junior defensive back Otis Jacobs has turned in strong run support during the year. Jacobs recorded 10 primary tackles and five assists last week against St. Paul’s.

“Otis is there when we need him to clean it up if ball carriers get past the line of scrimmage.”

Scobel said senior nose guard Casey Hebert has played consistent up front for the Lions. He also praised the play of inside linebackers senior Jeffry Joiner and junior Kyle Crouch.

“We have to make sure we wrap up the Mandeville ball carriers. Bunns had a strong game last week against Northshore. The Mandeville offensive line did a good job blocking for him,” Scobel said.

CHS junior quarterback Tyler Scott hit on 11-of-19 passes for 81 yards, and rushed eight times for 29 yards last week against St. Paul’s, while junior running back Phillip Bickham totaled 50 yards rushing on 15 carries.

Scobel said senior starting cornerback Matt McCormick, who handles the Lions’ punting duties, has done a good job booting the ball, averaging 40 yards per punt with lots of hang time.

“Matt has been a weapon for us with his punting. His high punts have allowed our coverage team to get down field. When teams have to drive 80 yards instead of 50 it helps your defense,” Scobel added.

“We have to take care of business if we want to make sure we make it to the playoffs.”