Covington traveling to unbeaten Thibodaux

Covington’s Fighting Lions are in the playoffs as a No. 28 seed under first-year head coach Malter Scobel. The Lions travel to Thibodaux to take on the Tigers at 7 tonight.

Thibodaux (8-0), the District 7-5A champion, enters the playoffs as the No. 5 seed. The Tigers ripped Terrebonne 62-33 last week to win the district title.

CHS (4-5) finished 3-4 in district play. During the middle of the season, Covington put together a three-game winning streak, however the Lions struggled after that closing out the regular season with three consecutive losses.

Covington finished the regular season falling to the district champion Mandeville Skippers, 25-17.

Scobel referred to Thibodaux as a quality team with excellent coaching.

“They remind me of Franklinton with talented players in the skill positions that have good speed and quickness,” Scobel said. “Thibodaux is big up front on defense and run to the ball well. They play a physical style of defense. They know how to create turnovers.”

Covington has made a resurgence this season, rebounding from last year’s 1-9 campaign.

Pulling the trigger for the Lions’ offense is junior quarterback Tyler Scott. Last week, Scott completed 11-of-23 passes for 119 yards with a 4-yard touchdown to Neil Blanchard, who caught five passes for 120 yards. David Mizell had three receptions for 11 yards.

Junior running back Phillip Bickham topped the Lions’ running game with 46 yards on 17 carries last week. He also completed a halfback option pass to Blanchard that went for 33 yards. Bickham has been the go-to-guy this season in the Lions’ rushing attack. Covington will need a big effort from the junior running back to keep Thibodaux’s high-powered offense off the field.

Covington’s aggressive defense will have to bring its best effort against Thibodaux.

Junior Denizel Ladner, a stalwart in the Lions’ secondary, blocked a Mandeville field goal attempt and returned it 80 yards for a touchdown early in the third quarter to trim the lead to 12-10. Junior Otis Jacobs is another player the Lions count on in the secondary. Jacobs posted seven individual tackles and three assists last week.

Cody Clemons contributed a team-high 11 tackles, six of them solo stops. Senior defensive end Barry Grinnell delivered four individual tackles and two sacks. Grinnell, along with senior Casey Hebert, have led the Lions on the defensive front. Senior linebacker Jeffry Joiner, who logged 10 tackles last week, six unassisted, and junior linebacker Kyle Crouch will have to be strong in run support again this week.

Dennis Lorio, who previously coached Thibodaux from 1987-1991 and captured a Class 5A state championship in 1991, returned to coach the Tigers this season.

Lorio said his defense has to contain Covington’s running game.

“We also have to account for their quarterback (Scott), who is both a passing and running threat,” Lorio said.

“Offensively, we have to account for Covington’s aggressive blitzes and slants. We want to protect and control the ball if we can. We need to have a balance of run and pass.”

Thibodaux junior quarterback Trovon Reed (6-1, 175) connected on 6-of-9 passes for 177 yards with three touchdowns in last week’s district clinching victory. Senior Carmichael Pharagood caught two TD passes, going for 27 and 32 yards, while senior Brandon Thompson had one touchdown reception for 35 yards.

Senior running back Demon Bolt (5-9, 170) rushed for 130 yards on 20 carries with three TDs, covering 5, 2 and 3 yards last week. Bolt also scored on a 96-yard kickoff return. Senior Jasmine Williams (5-6, 165) carried the ball seven carries for 41 yards.

In addition to last week’s 62-point total, earlier in the year Thibodaux routed Central Lafourche, 70-14, showing it can put points on the board.

Thibodaux’s defense was superb throughout the season as the Tigers post three consecutive shutouts to open the season. The defense was only allowing five points per game until last week’s game against district rival Terrebonne.

Senior linebacker Blake Poincon (6-0, 215), the Tigers’ leading tackler, spearheads the defense along with senior defensive lineman Carlos Coler (6-1, 280).