By JOSEPH W. GEX II/Sports Writer

BAY ST. LOUIS — The Saint Stanislaus Rock-A-Chaws used a second half come-from-behind win to retain the Crab Trap Trophy over Bay High 20-14 on Friday night at Joe D. McCullough Stadium/Tank Williams Field. 

The Tigers wasted little time getting on the scoreboard taking the opening possession 77 yards on 11 plays. 

Que Victor had runs of 3, 13, 10, 3, 17, 4, and 1 yard with the final carry finding the endzone with 7:39 left in the first quarter. Kaden Rose converted the PAT to make the score 7-0. 

The teams swapped possessions before the Rocks got another chance with the football following Matthew Williston’s punt return to the Tiger 29-yard line. 

Jay Thompson had three consecutive carries of 15, 4, and six yards with the last one finding the end zone with no time left in the first quarter. Jude Babin converted the PAT to knot the score at 7-7. 

Victor returned the lead to Bay High on the ensuing kickoff when he returned the ball 90 yards for a touchdown. Rose’s PAT made the score 14-7 with 11:43 left before halftime.

Both teams battled field position and penalties throughout the second quarter before the Tigers mounted a nine-play drive down the Rock nine yard line. A penalty pushed the Tigers back five more yards as Rose lined up for a 31-yard field goal that missed its mark leaving the score 14-7 going into intermission.

The Rocks opened the second half on offense but had to punt away.

On the third play of the Tigers’ possession, Victor was sacked by Brayden McDonald and forced the ball loose and Garren Couey recovered the loose ball at the Tiger 33-yard line.

McDonald had carries of 8 and 3 yards before Thompson added five and four yards before Max Rhodes ripped off an 18-yard scoring run with 5:47 left in the third quarter. Babin converted the PAT to knot the score 14-14. 

The ensuing kickoff was fielded by the Tigers before Bennett LeMaire forced a fumble that was recovered by Williston at the Tiger 40-yard line. 

Rhodes returned at quarterback for the Rocks as they pushed the ball to the 25-yard line. Babin attempted a 42-yard field goal that missed wide left leaving the score 14-14.

Victor and the Tigers picked up a first down before the Lex Rhodes picked off a pass near midfield for SSC.

Thompson leads the Rocks down to the two yard line before a personal foul penalty backs them up to the 17-yard line. Max Rhodes returns to the backfield and takes the first handoff down to the four yard line. Two consecutive two-yard gains by Max Rhodes puts the Tigers in the endzone for a touchdown with 9:28 left in the game. Babin’s PAT smacks the upright and falls no good leaving the score 20-14. 

The Tigers took over at their own 37-yard line. A third down sack by Fisher Smith forced a punt situation. 

The Rocks got into Tiger territory and Babin attempted a 35-yard field goal that was blocked by Devin Jones. 

The Tigers took over at the Rock 38-yard line. Lex Rhodes, Max Rhodes, Sal Riccardi, and Jackson Savoy all made huge plays for the Rock defense to halt the Tiger defense and preserve the win.

SSC head coach Tate Thigpen commented, “Max Rhodes played a great game. He was gritty and tough when he got in there. We are extremely proud of the players and the adversity they had to overcome throughout the game. We need to enjoy this one tonight and turn our focus to Moss Point. They are working a lot of the same issues we are with youth and the like. It should be an entertaining game next week.”

The Rocks were led by Max Rhodes with nine carries for 56 yards and two scores followed by Thompson with 19 carries for 72 yards. 

Bay High head coach Katlan French stated, “It is hard for young teams to get past their inexperience. We had a chance to score at the end of the first half and wasted that opportunity. I thought we ran the ball hard with Que Victor playing outside of his normal position. In the second half, SSC came out in a heavy package that we had not seen before. We are getting better with each practice. We have Long Beach on the road next week so we need to be ready an improved Bearcat team.”

For the Tigers, Victor had 96 yards and a touchdown on 26 carries. 

Long Beach travels to Long Beach next week and the Rocks travel to Moss Point. Game time for both contests is set for 7 p.m.