Ascension Episcopal Dominates Vermilion Catholic 35-14 to Stay Undefeated

The Ascension Episcopal Blue Gators secured their undefeated status on the season with a convincing 35-14 victory over the Vermilion Catholic Eagles in Youngsville on October 20, 2023. Their formula for success has remained consistent: a strong physical approach to football, a run-heavy offense, and a focus on minimizing turnovers.

Ascension Episcopal showcased their strategy right from the start, rushing for over 250 yards and forcing a turnover that resulted in a defensive touchdown. Head coach Jay Domengeaux expressed pride in his team’s execution, stating, “We talked all week long about being physical and protecting the football, and we’ve really done that all year long.”

The Blue Gators struck first, with quarterback Branon Mitchell scoring a touchdown from one yard out at the 2:21 mark of the first quarter, establishing a 7-0 lead. The defense then made a crucial play when Sport Gros intercepted a pass, returning it 25 yards for a touchdown, extending their lead to 14-0. “When you get a pick-six, or a turnover that you get points out of, that’s the equivalent of special teams points,” Domengeaux noted.

By the 4:38 mark of the second quarter, Ascension Episcopal had scored three unanswered touchdowns. Owen LeBlanc added to their tally with a 5-yard run, bringing the score to 21-0. Vermilion Catholic managed to score before halftime, with William Simon crossing the goal line on a 1-yard run, ending the half at 21-7.

The Eagles had a chance to narrow the gap further at the start of the second half, driving into the Blue Gators’ red zone. However, they turned the ball over on downs, a critical turning point in the game. “I was really proud of our defense for stiffening up, keeping them out of the end zone,” Domengeaux remarked.

Mitchell scored again in the third quarter, this time on a 41-yard run, pushing the lead to 28-7. Domengeaux praised Mitchell’s versatility, saying, “He can run for a little bit of power when you need it, he can run for a big game-breaker, and he can also throw the ball down the field.”

Vermilion Catholic refused to surrender, with Simon scoring a 13-yard touchdown early in the fourth quarter, reducing the deficit to 28-14. However, Ascension Episcopal sealed the game with a 26-yard touchdown pass from Mitchell to Preston Peebles at the 6:05 mark, finalizing the score at 35-14.

Domengeaux acknowledged the quality of their opponent, remarking, “VC is a quality team, which means this is a real quality win for us.” He emphasized the importance of ball security and praised his team’s performance in both rushing and defense.

With this victory, Ascension Episcopal continues to demonstrate their dominance in District 5-1A, maintaining a perfect record as they approach the latter part of the season.