By Kyle Roberts
Stop me if you’ve heard this one before, but the Ruston High Bearcats (2-1) face a tough opponent tonight.
This time, the Cardiac ‘Cats will head south to take on the Lafayette Christian Academy Knights (3-0), yet another powerhouse program that was a state-runner up last season in the select division.
For Ruston head coach Jerrod Baugh, it will be business as usual as the team looks to continue to improve in the 2022 campaign as non-district play will wrap up soon.
“I really have liked how our kids are fighting and competing hard and trying to find ways to win ballgames,” Baugh said. “The past two weeks, our kids have done that. They know what it takes to come out on top in close games against good teams. The experience we gain from playing these really good teams and then doing what we need to do to find a way to win those games is very big and beneficial down the road.”
Ruston has been in three straight games that have come down to the difference in one score, losing in overtime in week one to Warren Easton before winning two in a row against Jesuit and Cabot High School from Arkansas.
Lafayette Christian is undefeated this season at 3-0. Both the Bearcats and the Knights have played a common opponent in Jesuit. Ruston beat the Blue Jays 28-23 in week two, while LCA beat the Blue Jays last Friday 28-25.
“The high level of competition is going to be no different this week,” Baugh said. “We will load the kids on the charter bus and make a trip that’s three hours away and then having to dress at a different stadium. All of those things you go through is a great simulation of possibilities in the playoffs. I have never wanted to have the kids’ first experience on the road against a really good team to be in the playoffs.”
Baugh added that he expects a good game tonight and elaborated on Lafayette Christian’s prestigious football program.
“They speak for themselves,” Baugh said. “They’ve won plenty of state championships in the last few years. They’ve got great players and they’re coached really well. I think it will be a great environment for football. Hopefully, we can find another way to win another close ballgame.”
Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. The game can be heard live on Z107.5 FM and streamed at BearcatNationNetwork.com
