Carencro running back Cashmire Batiste started his 2023 season off right as he played a major role in the Golden Bears’ 46-26 win over the Alexandria Senior High Trojans last Friday.
Batiste carried the rock 21 times for 106 rushing yards and caught three passes for 146 yards; two from quarterback Chantz Babineaux and the other from wide receiver Austin Dyson on the first play of the game.
Carencro’s offense exploded in the first half as they scored 32 of their 46 points. Batiste’s first touchdown was from 62 yards out at the 11:46 mark of the second quarter. His second score of the evening put the Golden Bears up by 32 on a 10-yard catch with 6:04 left in the third and helped run out the clock as Carencro won by 20.
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Question: What were you seeing from the defense that allowed you to have the game that you had?
Answer: It wasn’t a bad defense, they just weren’t all together. They had some people do what they wanted so we would just attack that side over and over again. One side was weaker than the other, so we just continued to run the ball that way over and over again.
Q: What was the offensive game plan headed into last Friday’s contest versus Alexandria Senior High?
A: The whole game plan was just to win. We weren’t looking to just pass the ball or run the ball. Anything it took to win and we just did it.
Q: What kind of connection do you have with your quarterback Chantz Babineaux and what have you seen from him as you head into the next game?
A: At the beginning of the offseason, he wasn’t really all for (playing quarterback) but then I started talking to him and we started hanging out more. Talked about seven on sevens and we put it together and he just enjoyed playing QB. He really wanted to play wide receiver but he got moved to quarterback and started putting the work in and putting time in and we motivate him to do better.
Q: Your offensive line played well as a unit early, how dominant were they and how crucial are they to this team’s success?
A: They are going to be crucial. At the beginning of the Spring, it wasn’t good. In some plays, we would get four or five yards and would get driven back. Now, I feel that they are more dominant, some guys that we can run behind all of the time, whenever we need to in crucial moments. On 4th and 3rd downs, when we need two or three yards, they will push for it.
Q: How can a fast start to this season help prepare this team for the games to come, including tomorrow against the Barbe Buccaneers?
A: The way I think of it is that every week I try to put up more stats than last. I just try to play way better than I did the week before. I could have a good game but I feel that next week it should be a great game and on and on from there.
Batiste and the Carencro Golden Bears’ next opponent will be at home this Friday versus the Barbe Buccaneers. Kickoff at the Cro Dome will be at 7:00 with pregame at 6:45 and you can listen to the action over the air on Z105.9 or by downloading the free Z105.9 FM mobile app.