After a 35-34 overtime victory against Lumberton last week, the undefeated Cathedral Green Wave had a challenge on their hands, getting up for a struggling Sacred Heart team.

But the Green Wave (8-0) were able to do so, cruising past the Crusaders (3-3) 54-7.

“We were flat,” Cathedral head coach Ron Rushing said. “We had a big emotional win last week, but we played OK. It took a couple of adjustments, and we just didn’t play with a lot of fire.”

Cathedral jumped out to an early lead when Wyatt Boothe connected with Jardarius Anderson from 60 yards out to get the scoring started.

Sacred Heart would score their only points of the game on a 30-yard touchdown pass from Jackson Klein to Tyler Flathau, which tied the game at seven. But it was all Green Wave from there.

Anderson hauled in his second touchdown of the night to push the lead to 14-7, then Dee Fleming found the end zone from nine yards out to increase the lead to 21-7 heading into the second quarter.

The Green Wave would score three times in the second on a pair of 5-yard Christian Jenkins touchdown runs, and another touchdown run from Fleming, this time from 45 yards out.

With a running clock in the second half and a big lead, Rushing was able to get a look at some of his younger players.

“We played some younger kids, and they played really well,” he said.

Cathedral would score two more times in the game, both being touchdown passes from Conner Mire. The first was in the third quarter when Mire hooked up with Jackson Carpenter from 21 yards out. Then, in the fourth, Mire found Evan Webber from 63 yards out to cap the scoring and give Cathedral the 54-7 win.

Multiple Green Wave players had big nights with Fleming leading the way on the ground with 117 yards and his two touchdowns. Jenkins finished the game with 76 yards of his own.

Boothe put up solid numbers in the air, finishing 8-of-14 for 185 yards.

“We wanted to throw a little more to get some work,” Rushing said. “We threw the ball well and had great protection up front, so I was pleased. When we get to playoffs, we have to be balanced. We just haven’t had to throw much this year.”

Anderson was the leading receiver for the Green Wave with four catches for 121 yards and two scores.

Next up for Cathedral is a home game against Oak Forest Academy from Amite, LA.

“We’ve got our hands full,” Rushing said. “We’ve got a team that is extremely good that we have to play. If we don’t get ready, it’ll be embarrassing.”