Two consecutive weeks have yielded two convincing road wins over schools from larger classifications for the Catholic High Panthers.

CHS (2-1) jumped all over Class 3A Patterson on Friday, initiating a running clock in the first half with 43 points in a 43-8 win. Senior quarterback Luke Landry threw three touchdown passes to Jaiden Mitchell for a 21-0 lead in the first quarter.

Landry now ranks second in the Acadiana area with 459 passing yards and seven touchdowns without any interceptions through three weeks. 

Mitchell caught a 21-yard TD pass from Landry for a 7-0 lead at the 9:45 mark. Linebacker Bennett Woodring, who finished with five tackles (two for loss), forced a Patterson fumble that was recovered by Jack Romero. Landry then zipped another TD pass to Mitchell at the 9:25 mark.

“It’s very important to set the tone for the game the right way,” CHS coach Matthew Desormeaux said. “I felt like we were the better team. We should be able to handle them. Not playing down to your opponent is a very important part of being a successful, championship-type team.”

Landry completed nine of 11 passes for 122 yards and four TDs. All three of Mitchell’s catches, which totaled 53 yards, went for scores. Grayson Varnado added two catches for 33 yards, and Joe LeBlanc had two grabs for 18 yards and a score. Khylon Edwards, Gavin Roy and Bluze Pourciau each had a reception.

“Luke made good decisions. Jaiden made good decisions,” Desormeaux said. “Our defense and special teams set us up with short fields.”

Freshman John Parker Robison blocked a Patterson punt that led to an early touchdown.

“I know he was happy,” Desormeaux said. “It’s good to get the young guys on special teams.”

The CHS defense held Patterson to a meager 51 yards on 21 carries. The Lumberjacks’ longest rush was nine yards. Michael Haik led the Panthers with seven tackles, a sack and a forced fumble. Michael Bertrand added six stops. Woodring tallied five tackles (two for loss). Maxwell Chauvin, JD Hidalgo and Romero had four tackles apiece. Xander LaBauve and Myles Verret each had a sack.

“Coach O (defensive coordinator Henry Ohrenberger) and his staff have our guys prepared week in and week out,” Desormeaux said. “The offenses we face are going to get better. Notre Dame is a little different because they’re a power-I team.”

The Pioneers (2-1), who are ranked No. 7 in the LSWA Class 2A poll, travel to ninth-ranked CHS on Thursday. Kickoff is set for 7 P.M. Notre Dame defeated CHS during the regular season in the Scott Wattigny era. Before that, a seventh-seeded CHS team upset No. 2 Notre Dame on the road in the 2019 Division III quarterfinals under Brent Indest. The Panthers’ lone state championship since the 1960s came in 2017, when Catholic High defeated top-seeded Notre Dame 33-16 in the Division III final. 

“Their offense is unique now-a-days,” Desormeaux said. “I think our defensive staff has a great game plan. Can we match up physically with them for 48 minutes? They play good football.”

The Pioneers have wins over Ville Platte and Class 5A Southside, and are coming off a low-scoring loss at Class 4A top-ranked Teurlings Catholic. Notre Dame is coached by Lewis Cook, who has over 400 wins in his legendary career.

Desormeaux last coached against Cook in the quarterfinals during his tenure at Ascension Episcopal.

Tristan Lewis rushed for 79 yards on seven carries with two TDs vs. Patterson (0-2). Kicker Bennett Boudreaux has been perfect on extra points and made a field goal in Week 1 vs. Vermilion Catholic.