Loyola’s Restovich, Ascension Catholic’s Folse Named Week 4 Players of the Week
by Marshall Loeffler // GeauxPreps.com
Bryce Restovich of Loyola earns this week’s award after putting together a phenomenal offensive display on Friday night in a game that needed it. The senior standout quarterback was typically dominant through the air and, more and more recently, effective on the ground, notching a seven-touchdown performance to help the Flyers outlast Northwood in a series that has been extremely competitive the past two seasons.
Restovich was called to put his full skill set on display, lighting up the stat sheet with 424 passing yards and six touchdown passes. In addition to the LCP offense continuing to move the chains and score through the air, he kept defenders in check by adding 64 rushing yards and another TD on the ground, spreading the ball to 5 different receivers and getting Ty Walsworth, Charlie McKenzie, Graham Kyle, Carson Ward, and JT Taylor (2 rush TD) into the end zone.
“I thought Northwood was a pretty good and athletic team,” Restovich said this week. “They were fast, physical, and, for the most part, disciplined. I give all the credit to the O-line and my coaches for this one. We came in with a game plan that we thought could work; We got it done by trusting ourselves and our coaches.”
Restovich’s incredible 488-yard, seven-touchdown effort provided the fuel for Loyola to win that race against Northwood and set them up for two straight games against “Dome teams” from last year. For his dominant play when it mattered greatly, Bryce Restovich is this week’s GeauxPreps Offensive Player of the Week.
Offensive Total Team Effort
Tioga played up against 5A Natchitoches Central and got just about everyone involved in the offensive rhythm. Ronnie Stevens, Jackson Tarver, Bryson Faul, and Joe Rose all had rushing touchdowns. Ten different players got the ball and gained yards for the Indians, who also added a kickoff return touchdown to their 42-14 victory over the Chiefs.
This team was a Top 10 team in Division I Select last season, and is playing in DII this year. They replaced all-star offensive pieces at key positions in the offseason, but a new QB, WR group, backfield, and center, the offensive line returned Naradda Roy at OT and Wesley Sherman at TE to get this offense right back to where they left off. Stay tuned for some of their big time district games later this season.
Week 4 Defensive Player of the Week: Kohen Folse, DB, Ascension Catholic Bulldogs
Ascension Catholic defensive back Kohen Folse was a playmaker in the biggest way in Week 4 against South Lafourche. The sophomore safety took two interceptions back to the house, and also totaled 10 tackles (7 solo) and broke up three more passes. It was another impressive performance by the state runner-up team that replaced an All-State player but has been playing like a team that can make a return trip.
Folse told me this week that “we play as a unit on defense, everyone has a job to do, and coaches put us in the best positions. Our defense keeps getting confidence, but there are always things to improve on. I had some opportunities to make plays, and it’s my job to execute them.”
According to head coach Taylor James, a highlight reel game like this one that gets seen all over the state was set up by Folse’s work ethic and discipline way back when no one was watching. “Kohen has really progressed throughout his sophomore year. His freshman year was cut short by injury, but after that I watched him put in a lot of work, whether it was track, powerlifting, and just attacking the offseason program,” James shared with me this week. “I felt he was going to be a big part of our defense because of his work ethic and discipline during the summer.
The light kind of came on for him in Week 3, and he went from dropping interceptions to making a play to set our offense up in the red zone, and then against South Lafourche, he has one of the better returns that I’ve ever seen in my career. I’m really excited about his development, and I’m excited to see what else he can do for our team this year.”
Kohen Folse is part of an AC defense that is working very well together, and that is why he is this week’s GeauxPreps Defensive Player of the Week.
Defensive Total Team Effort
Just last week, I lauded the total team effort of D’Arbonne Woods on offense for getting most of their starters involved and blowing out Arcadia. I have seen that offense up close, and they can score points and maintain possession. Well, Homer either read last week’s edition and used it as motivation, or perhaps they completely missed the memo about the Timberwolves ability to move up and down the field.
The Pelicans did not allow a single point at home, and their offense was more than supported on the way to a 52-0 rout. It was a much-needed first win for a team that has Ouachita Christian and Calvary Baptist coming up on the schedule, who will provide two more tests for this defense to have the kind of night it had at home in Week 4.