SM gets sloppy 23-6 win over Abbeville

It was a win, but it wasn’t very pretty as the St. Martinville Tigers notched a 23-6 victory over Abbeville in District 5-4A action here last Thursday.
The Tiger offense came up empty three times in the second half inside the Wildcat 10 and once again gave up costly turnovers and penalties. A smothering defense saved the day, however, limiting Abbeville to 10 net yards and forcing two third quarter safeties.
The win kept The ’Ville undefeated in district play at 2-0 while the Tigers improved to 5-3 overall.
St. Martinville struck early after getting the ball at the Wildcat 28 following a short Abbeville punt. Four plays later Nakavin Batiste scored from the one just three minutes into the game.
SM’s next possession was short-lived when Jared Davis’s second passing attempt was picked off at the Abbeville 36.
The ’Ville turned the ball over again when a Wildcat punt was muffed near midfield.
But Davis got the Tigers moving on their next possession with a 30-yard strike to Wiltyree Marshall. Five plays later he found Deantre James open for an 18-yard touchdown and Dylan Wilmore’s PAT kick stretched the Tiger lead to 13-0 midway through the second period.
St. Martinville got a big break when Abbeville QB Demarcus Collins, who was under heavy pressure all night, fumbled at the 12 on the Wildcats’ first play of the second half.
Three plays moved the ball to the 5 but Batiste was stopped at the 3 on fourth down to end the threat.
The Tiger defense forced a punt from the 8. The kicker had trouble with the snap and put a knee down in the end zone for a safety.
After Abbeville was forced to kick off from its 20, St. Martinville got the ball at the 45. Sydney Faulk rushed for 37 yards on four carries, moving the ball to the 8. But the Tigers stalled and turned the ball over on downs at the 1.
Abbeville couldn’t get out of the hole and on the punt attempt the snap sailed out of the end zone for a second safety, boosting the SM lead to 17-0 at the end of the third period.
A holding penalty wiped out a nice return of the ensuing kickoff but Dylan Derouselle, who replaced Davis at quarterback, ripped off a 45-yard gain to the 2 and three plays later sneaked in for the TD.
The Tigers threatened again minutes later after blocking an Abbeville punt and getting the ball at the 15. But four plays produced only 6 yards and once again SM couldn’t reach the end zone.
Abbeville’s only score came when linebacker Chris Shelvin picked off a SM fumble in the air and raced 50 yards to the Tiger 5. Matt Johnson took it in from there to make the final score 23-6 at the 2-minute mark.
St. Martinville was without leading rusher Kain Pitre, but Batiste and Faulk teamed up for 99 yards. Deantre James had four catches for 47 yards and a TD.
The loss dropped Abbeville to 3-5 and 0-3.
St. Martinville celebrates homecoming this week by hosting the Westgate Tigers on Friday.