Catskin goes to Bunkie for first time since 2009

For the first time since 2009, the Bunkie Panthers took home the Catskin banner with a shutout of archrival Marksville Tigers, 26-0.

The banner is the symbol of victory in the rivalry game between the two Avoyelles Parish schools that dates back to 1950. Marksville had won the last eight games. That period included a two-year interruption in 2015 and 2016 and the 2020 game, which was canceled when the 2020 season was abbreviated due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Bunkie now holds a 35-33-2 advantage over the Tigers.

"We mentally were more physical and aggressive in this game," Panthers Coach Nick Pujol said. "We decided to take the fight to them instead of sitting back and seeing what they were going to do."

Pujol said the theme of this past week's practices has been "How will you respond." Bunkie lost both of its Jamboree matchups, 16-0 to Marksville and 30-0 to the Avoyelles Mustangs.

"We intentionally played a lot of younger guys in the Jamboree so I could see what they could do on the field," Pujol said. "We played our veteran players from the start in this game, even though it meant a lot of the players were starting on offense and defense."

Bunkie had a 23-0 lead at halftime, which was good because players started cramping in the second half.

"We were able to put the younger players in and just drain the time," Pujol said.

In addition to instilling a positive and aggressive attitude in his Panthers this past week, Pujol also worked on a few big plays that paid off during the game.

Sophomore running back Tanner Lemoine caught two passes coming out of the backfield. One went all the way for a touchdown and the other was a long catch-and-run that "flipped the field" and set up another touchdown, the coach noted.

The Panthers also returned an interception for a touchdown.

"Our defense played outstanding football," Pujol said.

In addition, kicker John Eves hit two field goals and had one blocked and connected on two out of three PATs.

Pujol said Hayden Sauseda did an excellent job for the Panthers, starting at quarterback and middle linebacker.

"In fact, a lot of our seniors were playing both ways and played an outstanding game," he added.

Marksville travels to Ville Platte next Friday to play Sacred Heart High School. Bunkie has a week off.

In the other parish game of the night, the Avoyelles Mustangs defeated the Rayne Wolves, 22-20, proving once again just how important those extra one or two points after a touchdown really are.

Avoyelles travels to Monroe on Sept. 10 to face the Carroll Bulldogs.

Bunkie hosts Avoyelles on Sept. 24 and Marksville also has the home field advantage against the Mustangs on Oct. 22.