Mandeville turned back district rival Slidell, 24-20, last week in the bi-district round, overcoming five turnovers. Higgins blasted New Iberia, 56-14, last week at home.
Mandeville coach Guy LeCompte said his offense can’t afford to turn the ball over this week.
 Mandeville's Jerry Mitchell (38) and Ryan McNeely (48) put the stop on Slidell'€™s Zack Clark in last week'€™s bi-district round playoff game. Mandeville (9-1) hosts Higgins in the regional round tonight at Skipper Stadium with kickoff set for 7 o'€™clock. (File Photo by Mike McCall) |
LeCompte described Higgins as a big and physical team.
“Offensively, they like to pound the ball at you. They want to control the ball and the clock with their running game. The clock will run more so we won’t have as many offensive opportunities,” he said.
LeCompte said his defense, which has been solid all season long, will have to come up with another good defensive stand.
“We don’t want them to be able to grind out yardage against us while eating up the clock,” LeCompte added.
MHS defensive coordinator Craig Jones’ defense has posted four shutouts, The Skippers only allow 9.7 points per game.
The Skippers’ top three tacklers, senior Michael Crain (82), senior linebacker Hayden Harper (77) and senior linebacker Jeff Rebouche (56), all had strong games last week. Harper registered six individual tackles and three assists with a stop for a loss. Rebouche recorded five solos and three assists along with a blocked punt, while Crain totaled five primary tackles.
MHS senior cornerback Jerry Mitchell intercepted a pass with less than a minute remaining to help seal the victory.
Mandeville made a dramatic comeback last week in the bi-district round despite the turnover bug.
Senior quarterback Andy Bertoniere has completed 94-of-170 passes for 1,395 yards with nine TDs and eight interceptions on the season. Last week, Bertoniere completed 15-of-32 passes for 232 yards with a touchdown, but he was picked off four times.
MHS will be without its leading receiver, sophomore Elijah Levee´, who broke his foot last week against Slidell. Levee´ had 34 catches for 419 yards, including four catches last week for 63 yards.
Senior Brandon Weeden, another favorite target, comes in with 32 catches for a team-high 489 yards with six TDs, also tops on the club.
Junior quarterback John Wenzel, who is back in the lineup following a shoulder injury, played receiver against Slidell. He hauled in five receptions for 68 yards.
Senior Will Bunns has 26 catches for 435 yards with three touchdowns on the season.
Bunns will be counted on to carry the rushing load for the Skippers. He tallied three TDs in the Slidell victory, gaining 150 yards on 27 carries.
He has picked up 662 yards on 112 carries, averaging 5.9 yards per carry with a team leading six touchdowns.
Bunns has been the Skippers’ workhorse, carrying the ball 78 times in the last three games, totaling 532 yards.
Higgins’ head coach Wayne Meyers is in his 13th season with the Hurricanes. Higgins runs a double wing option offense triggered by senior quarterback Edward Bernard (5-9, 170). Higgins features three running backs, senior Princeton White (5-9, 175), junior Nolan Lebouef (6-1, 210) and junior Leon Smith (5-9, 180).
Higgins rushed for 269 yards in the Hurricane’s victory over New Iberia. The Hurricanes didn’t attempt a pass. Higgins fumbled four times, but only lost one.
Higgins’ top defenders include senior defensive lineman Shakiel Lucas (6-3, 270), junior defensive back De’shawn White (5-10, 190) and sophomore linebacker Jamal Wilson (5-10, 220).
Higgins forced five New Iberia fumbles, recovering four of them.
“We will have to be solid on defense,” Meyers said. “Mandeville can really spread it out offensively. They can do it all offensively.
“Their defense doesn’t make mistakes. They don’t give up big plays and they get turnovers. They just don’t allow many points,” he added.
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