Thanksgiving week practices are becoming a habit in Central.
The reigning champion Wildcats (10-2) exploded past East Ascension (8-4) on Friday to advance to the Division-I Non-Select quarterfinals for the third straight year after having gone a decade without doing so.
Junior quarterback Max Gassiott accounted for more than 400 total yards and five touchdowns in the 46-32 victory, including help leading the late drive capped by junior safety/athlete Marvin Joseph Jr. to double the lead and down the No. 12 Spartans.
“I’m confident in the preparation our team and coaches have put in to be ready for big moments at any given time,” Gassiott said. “I feel the experience of playing in big games throughout the season has helped us great ready for this. Being able to help the team means everything to me, so happy to be a part of this team and program.”
Gassiott finished 19-for-26 (73.1%) for 308 yards, including scoring strikes to senior Keithon Womack and junior Brody Diel and rushed for 104 yards and three end-zone trips with his legs.
East Ascension kept on the Wildcats’ heels deep into the game with another strong playoff performance from veterans such as LSU-committed lineman/tight end Brysten Martinez, running back Jason Blackburn and quarterback Jarrod “J.J.” LeBouef and junior wide receivers Jeremyah Merriweather and Jayden Ursin.
The teams traded scores deep into the third until Central was able to open up its two-touchdown advantage with a pair of long drives and a pair of defensive stops, including Joseph intercepting a pass and breaking up another in the end zone.
“It really took us trusting each other and staying focused,” Joseph said. “We knew it was gonna be a tight game. Even when backed up in the end zone, we knew we had to make those stops and let the offense do their thing. they had several 90-yard drives, and that’s not easy to do, but the offense was on fire all night long, and we knew we could depend on them and they could depend on us. So it was just all about team effort, trust and execution.”
Central will be one of just two No. 5 seeds in Louisiana’s eight playoff brackets to host a game next week, as District 4-5A rival Zachary (8-3) upset No. 4 Denham Springs (8-3) just a few miles away across the Amite River.
The Wildcats survived the No. 13 Broncos, 35-33, in their regular-season meeting with a denied two-point attempt in the final minute on Halloween eve.