NFL Goodell says league didn’t see video before this week Sports 3B B SECTION | THE COURIER | WEDNESDAY , SEPTEMBER 10 , 2014 | WWW.HOUMATODAY.COM NFL Saints’ pass rush ‘ate humble pie’ THE SIDELINES TEDDY RENOIS Lyons Yellin ate that humble pie (on Sunday),” he 448 yards passing, a new Atlanta had 23 plays of 10 yards or more WWL-TV.com Sports Reporter said. “But I feel like it’s good it hap- record. while averaging 8.2 yards per snap. METAIRIE — Really the only pened early. That’s the only good I “The guy’s an elite quarterback, Because of Atlanta’s plethora of Colonels thing that had changed from Sunday can take out of that it happened the and elite quarterbacks, you have playmaking wide receivers — Julio afternoon to Monday morning for fi rst game of the season, let’s get this to get to them,” he said. “Any of the Jones, Rodey White, Harry Douglas Junior Galette was the location of the out the way and just never have this Tom Bradys, Drew Breeses once and Devin Hester, all of whom aver- locker he was sitting in front of. feeling again that I have right now.” you start making them feel uncom- aged more than 11.5 yards per re- in need of The always affable and normally Galette has every reason to be fortable in the pocket they become ception Sunday — the Saints hoped upbeat New Orleans Saints line- peeved after the Saints defense human again.” they could disrupt Ryan with a four- backer was still reeling after his nearly set a futility record, allow- The Saints pass rush was largely man rush, allowing the back seven hope team’s stunning 37-34 overtime road ing 568 yards, the second-most in ineffective against Ryan, who re- loss to Atlanta (1-0). franchise history. Equally as both- peatedly escaped pressure only to Galette “Defi nitely humbling; defi nitely ersome, quarterback Matt Ryan’s make the Saints pay. The Falcons | See Saints, 3B | Nicholls State University wasn’t overmatched in its 73-7 loss to Arkansas on Saturday. The Colonels were overwhelmed. HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREP VOLLEYBALL When Arkansas wide receiver Keon Hatcher completed his 82-yard touch- down run for a 7-0 lead, the Late touchdown started a celebra- tion Razorback fans have waited for since the start of a 10-game losing streak. rally lifts I knew the celebration was in full swing midway in the second quarter with the jovial mood in the press box Lady among the Arkansas beat writers. They were relieved to ask questions and write stories on a much-needed Warriors victory. Whether Nicholls’ run de- Wil Touchet fense is improved, it was hard Sports Correspondent to tell as the Razorbacks’ Down two sets and trailing offensive line completely in the third, it appeared the wiped the Colonels’ defense Houma Christian volleyball off the line of scrimmage. team was looking at a certain That dominance led to loss. Arkansas scoring on a single But the Lady Warriors play on fi ve possessions ,and kept fi ghting and rallied to every time the Razorbacks take the third set along with ran a play in fi rst half, it could the fourth and fi fth sets to have potentially ended with a comeback and top Central touchdown. Lafourche, 19-25, 21-25, 25- Arkansas’ 56-0 halftime 16, 25-14, 15-10, in nondistrict lead prompted someone action on Tuesday. associated with the game After gaining the lead in the to ask Nicholls head coach third set, Houma Christian Charlie Stubbs if he wanted ran off 10 straight points as to reduce the time in the the Lady Trojans had trouble second half. breaking the serve of Amy Stubbs said he didn’t take Bonvillain (four digs, nine it as demeaning, but I do kills, fi ve aces). think it is a bit embarrassing. Benjamin Oliver Hicks/Staff “We started off pretty slop- It may have been someone H.L. Bourgeois’ Tevyn Johnson tackles South Terrebonne running back Cristian Wallis during a Sept. 5 game at Tom B. Smith py, which is something we from the SEC Network want- Stadium in Houma. Some in the area have voiced concerns over the condition of the fi eld. never do,” Houma Christian ing to move the game along coach Samantha Ordoyne to save the ratings. said. “We usually start off Anyway, we knew it was good. I just decided to sub going to be a tough road with people in and see if they were games against Air Force and willing to step it up. I think Arkansas to begin the sea- it got our starters ready and son. The Colonels’ 0-2 record willing to step it up and play was expected but getting hard. After that, they seemed outscored 117-23 and giving Muddy Situation to all push through and come up 1,034 rushing yards does out on top. I’m very proud that make it diffi cult in accepting they picked it up and came those expectations. out with the victory.” Here is a history lesson Concerns arise over football-field conditions Houma Christian (6-2 over- about Nicholls football, all) got down early in the fi rst which started in 1972. In its game but rallied back to take history, the football program Chris Singleton “Worst fi eld conditions I have been on in ball like you want to. It put us out of our com- the lead. With the set tied at has produced 14 non-losing Staff Writer 30 years,” South Terrebonne coach Richard fort zone. We had trouble getting the snaps. 15, the Lady Trojans scored seasons, so its supporters Football teams in Terrebonne Parish are Curlin said. “I have never seen a fi eld like We would love to play on a better fi eld every eight of the next of the 10 are well adapted to disap- dealing with a messy — and muddy — situ- this. When it gets to this point it is about the week, but there is nothing that we as play- points behind the serve of se- pointment. But those same ation after the fi rst week of the high school safety of the kids. We very easily could have ers can do about it.” nior middle hitter Kourtney supporters are loyal and will football regular season. had kids injured playing on this stuff. This Although they fi nished with no turn- Leblanc (10 digs, seven kills, lend their undying support if Heavy rains right before the regular sea- was only Game 1. What is it going to be like overs, South Terrebonne senior running three blocks, ace) to pull they see hope and potential, son opener between South Terrebonne later on? I don’t see them having anything back Cristian Wallis, who rushed for 134 away for the win. and Saturday’s game against High and H.L. Bourgeois High on Friday left after this.” yards and two touchdowns in the horrid Central Lafourche (3-3) Henderson State could pro- turned the majority of grass playing surface Athletes who played on the fi eld Friday conditions, said he took home a lot of mud jumped out to an early lead in vide the spark the loyalists at Tom B. Smith Stadium into a wet, muddy said it was hard to keep their footing on the after the game. the second game as well, only need. mix by the opening kickoff. extra sloppy fi eld. “After the fi rst period, you couldn’t even to see the Lady Warriors rally Last season, the Colonels South Terrebonne won the game 43-14, “When you run an offense like we run, see my jersey number anymore,” Wallis again to tie it at 11. The Lady gave us hope with a win over but most of the talk after was about the con- which is a spread, we rely on passing the said. “By the time the end of the game came Trojans regained the lead and Western Michigan and a ditions both teams endured for four quar- ball,” H.L. Bourgeois senior quarterback around, I had mud in my eyes, mouth and all never looked back, including stellar performance against ters, which coaches say could have caused Todd Adkins said. “When you have those Northwestern State, but that major injury for anyone on the fi eld. conditions, you really can’t throw the foot- hope faded quickly in a six- | See Field, 3B | | See Warriors, 3B | game losing streak. Nicholls’ losing streak is now eight games, and while the goal is to win, Nicholls also wants to survive the nonconference HIGH SCHOOL VOLLEYBALL slate with enough healthy bodies for conference com- petition. Lady Braves win for their coach With three FBS teams on the schedule, winning one of those games would prove Jordon Legendre serve-receive, working as a win three straight points to and has proved to be dif- Sports Correspondent team, be prepared for (Tues- get the score to 20-13, but H.L. fi cult. That is why Saturday’s GRAY — Playing without your day), and they really come out Bourgeois fi nished with a 5-0 game against Henderson head coach on the bench can be here and just did exactly what run to win the game 25-13. State is so important. diffi cult, but the H.L. Bourgeois they needed to do.” The Lady Gators also lost se- If we are to believe Nicholls Lady Braves handled it well in H.L. Bourgeois (6-2 overall) nior captain Dariane Dardar to (picked to fi nish ninth in the Tuesday’s nondistrict volleyball jumped out to an early 4-1 lead, an injury during the fi rst game.