Kentwood and Basile are not exactly strangers when it comes to the Louisiana Class 1A football playoffs.
The two schools located roughly 170 miles apart, have played three times in the last nine years. Kentwood is 3-0 in those games with an average score of 37-11. Kentwood was a 40-6 winner in a first-round game last season.
The two schools meet again Friday in a 1A quarterfinal playoff round at Basile.
“Basile likes to mix it up a little bit. They run some shotgun out of the (I-formation). We controlled them pretty well last year,” said Kentwood coach David Currier. “We played well last year, so I’m sure they remember.”
The No. 5 Kangaroos enter the game 10-1 overall after defeating Country Day 34-17 last week in the regionals. The No. 13 Bearcats, the runner-up in District 5, eliminated Plain Dealing 25-14 and improved to 11-1.
A particular concern for the Kangaroos and Currier is Basile sophomore running back Kendrick Ceaser, who rushed 25 times for 221 yards and four touchdowns last week. One of his touchdowns was 74-yard romp in the fourth quarter.
“( Ceaser) is a pretty good running back. He’s not super big, but he runs hard,” Currier said.
The 5-foot-9, 150-pound Ceaser has rushed for 2,100 yards and 26 touchdowns this season. An ankle injury kept him from playing against Kentwood last year.
“Last year ( Ceaser) just relied on his speed, but this year he’s learned how to set up his blocks,” said Basile coach Tony Bertrand, who is in his seventh year as head coach. “He is more of a complete package now.”
Trenton Telloquin is the Bearcats’ quarterback. He started the season at receiver before moving under center. Kevin Hardy (5-8, 170) is the fullback.
“The special part about us is we’re undersized, but we play as a team real well,” Bertrand said. “We’re fundamentally sound.”
Kentwood’s defensive line includes Javari Nichols, Glenn Myers, Oscar Brumfield, Torandon Watson and Kevanta Venible. Linebackers are Jordan Taylor, Darriyn McKnight, Jerron Moore, Shaquan Wilson and Rodney Williams, the club’s leading tackler who missed last week’s game because of a bad ankle.
Kentwood’s secondary also includes Ryan Walker, Deante Tate and Shyheim Carter.
Ceaser’s counterpart — junior Leslie Collins — is out for the season after suffering a dislocated shoulder last week early in the third quarter on a carry. Collins carried four times for 115 yards and scored on a 75-yard run. He also returned a punt 63 yards for a score.
Collins also started at cornerback.
Currier said freshman Carter and junior Robert Trout will share running back duties in place of Collins. Defensively, Currier said senior Ray Henry will step in at cornerback, while Trout will return punts.
KHS quarterback Tavarious Battiste was 6 of 12 passing for 122 yards and a touchdown last week. He threw one interception. Other skill players for the Kangaroos are wingback Jaquavis Roberts and receiver Thomas Route.
The winner of Friday’s game advances to the semifinals and meets the winner of No. 1 Ouachita Christian (12-0), the defending state champion, and No. 9 Southern Lab (10-3). An Ouachita Christian victory over Southern Lab would have Kentwood playing at home if KHS defeats Basile. If Southern Lab wins, Kentwood travels to Baton Rouge next week.
“We’ve just got to take care of business,” Currier said. “We want to play somewhere next week.”
