LAFAYETTE, LA– John Paul the Great Academy (JPG) opens with a convincing 46-26 victory over their rival Lions from Acadiana Christian School on a steamy early August evening this past Thursday at Clark Field. The Guardians appear to have distanced themselves from the Lions since last year’s championship where JPG prevailed 22-20.
Head Coach Barrett Richard said, “We played well. I was extremely impressed for our first game, especially with our execution. We wanted to get better, but for the first game, I was really pleased with how we played together.”
Rushing Duo Dominates
The Guardians’ backfield was nearly unstoppable. Junior Riley Lormand exploded for 203 yards on 14 carries, averaging 14.5 yards per rush. Junior Jonah Petitt wasn’t far behind, racking up 180 yards on 11 carries and an eye-popping 16.4-yard average.
Coach Richard credited the offensive line for opening running lanes all night. “Our offensive line blocked extremely well,” he said. “Riley and Jonah both had big games, but that’s a testament to the guys up front.”
Defensive Standouts
The defense made life difficult for the Lions’ offense. Sophomore Nick Odinet led the team with 10 total tackles (2 solo, 8 assists). Odinet also made his presence felt with two key interceptions, helping snuff out ACS scoring opportunities. “He’s a young talent, very coachable, real smart,” Coach Richard said. “We love having him on defense.” Junior Dominic Cramer also contributed 4 solo and 5 assisted tackles.
Keys to Improvement
While pleased with the overall performance, Coach Richard noted some areas for growth. “We need to get in better game shape—first game cramps are almost inevitable, especially with so many of our guys playing both ways. Ball security has to be better too. We fumbled one out of the back of the end zone, which turned into a touchback. And defensively, we fell for a few of their option fakes, which is inexcusable since we run the option ourselves.”
Looking Ahead
The Guardians will play ACS again at season’s end. Richard believes ACS to be well coached and expects another physical and tough game. This week, JPG plays the Storm of the Midstate Homeschool Organization on Thursday at Louisiana Christian University in Pineville. Midstate, a first-year program, opened their season with a decisive 38–10 win over the North Shore Vultures.
“We don’t know much about them,” Coach Richard admitted. “They’re new, but we know they have good athletes from their other sports. We’re expecting a tough game and everybody’s best shot.”
Fan Support
Coach Richard praised the turnout at Clark Field and encouraged fans to travel for Thursday’s game. “There was a great crowd Thursday night—ACS brought their fans, and it was a good atmosphere. We hope our fans make the trip. It means a lot to the boys, and Louisiana Christian University is a nice venue.”
With a dominating debut, a potent rushing attack, and a defense capable of takeaways, the Guardians have momentum on their side heading into week two.