The Golden Bears closed out an 8-2 regular season Thursday night with an emphatic 37-6 home win over Beau Chene on Senior Night, scoring 37 unanswered points following an early Gators defensive score.
Senior quarterback Carl Randall continued his roll from the second half of the Teurlings Catholic game, completing 7-of-9 passes in the first half versus Beau Chene, two of which went for touchdowns. He enters the playoffs looking significantly better with that previously injured ankle and is throwing at his most consistent clip of the season.
Carencro had a host of seniors play big in their final regular season game. Three-phase terror Eric Toliver hauled in a touchdown pass and started out as the Bears’ lead corner. Kendarius Poullard atoned for an early fumble with a pair of rushing touchdowns and, as usual, gave Carencro’s offense a different dimension.
Two juniors played big as well in the regular season finale. Running back Treylon Barnaba ran through and around Gators defenders for 120 yards on the ground, and up-and-coming defensive end Keon Jean-Batiste proved to be the Bears’ most devastating pass rusher, constantly re-setting the pocket to the dismay of Beau Chene.
WHAT’S NEXT?
The Class 4A playoffs are on the horizon, and Carencro will have an extra day of rest to prepare and get key players healthy given a Thursday night game on Week 10.
Most analysts have the Bears pegged anywhere between seeds five and nine. The top 16 seeds host in the opening round of non-select division playoffs. If ranked eighth or ninth, Carencro could find itself on a collision course with presumed top seed Neville in the third round.
Listen to the action, wherever the Golden Bears are, all playoffs long on Mustang 107.1.
– Ben Love