A game of cross-town rivals was a barnburner as the STM Cougars beat their rival the Teurlings Catholic Rebels 41-35 in overtime.
Teurlings got the ball first in OT and missed a field goal. STM won the game on a Charlie Payton touchdown run near the goal line.
STM had to mount a second half comeback after trialing for most of the game after taking an early lead.
You knew after the 1st quarter this was going to be a thriller.
While Teurlings punted on their first drive, the next 11 minutes was as exciting an opening quarter as you’ll see in Acadiana prep football.
STM opened with a 38-yard touchdown run by Charlie Payton making it 7-0. Tuerlings responded with a 44-yard kick return by Conner Kleinpeter followed by two 20-plus yard plays from receiver Kentrell Prejean that ended with a 23-yard scoring pass. The Cougars took the ensuing kickoff 95-yards making it 14-7.
Whew!
The teams began to settle into the game after the electric start. Along with a 20-yard scoring catch from Prejean and a one-yard running score from Tanner Brinkman, Teurlings went up 21-14.
The Rebels defense made three straight stops including two straight three and outs and a 67-yard pick six by Thomas Buller to go up 28-14 with three minutes left in the half.
STM got good field position after a late hit penalty was called on Teurlings after the ensuing kickoff. After a tough 4th down run to extend the drive, Cougars QB Will Taylor threw a 19-yard score to cut the score 28-21 at the half.
Teurlings got the ball to start the 3rd and STM intercepted the pass on the first play. Hines caught his second score of the day on a 23-yard throw from STM’s other QB Sam Altman tied it at 28.
“We knew the defense had to go out and get the ball back,” STM head coach Tim Hightower said. “They did that right away, so that certainly was a big factor in the way the second half went. I thought we tackled better in the second half.”
The 3rd quarter came to an end on Brinkman’s 84-yard touchdown run to put the Rebels up 35-28.
The Cougars had a long methodical drive where they made three 3rd-down conversions that ended with a TD pass from Taylor to Christian McNees to tie the game at 35.
With Walker Howard sidelined, STM continued with a two quarterback system in Taylor and Altman for the second week in a row.
The Rebels (5-2, 0-2) are scheduled to play Westgate next week and STM (3-3, 1-1) will play at Northside.