ANDRE BURL / L’Observateur / October 19, 1998

METAIRIE – The West St. John Rams showed their muscle against the St.Martin’s Saints Friday night, and came away with the 34-7 victory.

West St. John improved to 4-3 on the season and 1-1 in District 9-2A. St.Martin’s dropped to 1-6 overall and 0-2 in district play.

Measuring up their opponent quickly, the Rams did not take long before they shifted their high-powered offense into gear and begin to mount up the points.

After a few miscues early in the game, the Rams’ Brent Poche caught a pass from quarterback Jamar Bailey from 29 yards out and the scoring rout began. The extra point was missed and, with 8:32 remaining in thequarter, the Rams led 6-0.

The Saints tried to counter with their best runner in No. 8, Danny Trahant,but the strength and size of West St. John proved to be too much of anobstacle to overcome.

Unable to mount any effective offensive attack in their series of downs, the Saints gave the ball to the Rams and it was not long before the Rams went back to work.

A dazzling, 60-yard romp by Brent Poche for a touchdown with 3:10 in the first period made the Rams’ offense looked almost invincible. The extrapoint was blocked, but a penalty on the Saints gave West St. John anotherchance. The Rams did not squnder this opportunity, as they quickly linedup for a two-point conversion to make the score 14-0.

St. Martin’s stayed with their bread and butter in Danny Trahant, but theRams did not give a inch. The West St. John Rams moved the ball up anddown the field on a combination of great pass plays and good running.

However, West St. John just could not put the ball into the end zone for atouchdown.

Down at the 11-yard line, Brian Lumar attempted a field goal in the second quarter at the 7:30 mark, but it was wide. St. Martin’s took overpossession, but threw an interception to Pendarvis Morris at their own 10, and the Rams was looking to increase their lead.

On a first-and-10 at the 10, Donnel Louis made a beautiful grab while in the grasp of a defensive player for a touchdown. The extra point was good,and the score was 21-0, West St. John. The Saints took the kickoff and marched to the West St. John 48-yard linewhere they tried a field goal. However, it went wide and the half ended,West St. John Rams 21 and St. Martin’s Saints 0.The second half started with an onside kick by the Saints, and West St.

John did not waste any time before their outstanding runner, Brent Poche, got the ball and drove for a 57-yard touchdown. The extra pointwas goodto make the score 28-0 at the 10:31 mark in the third.

The rest of the third quarter looked like a defensive tug-of-war with no one taking control and the quarter ended with no more scoring.

Early in the fourth, the Saints’ Dennis Stewart took the ball around the right end and found the end zone. A missed extra point left the score atWest St. John 28, St. Martin’s 6. Next, with 4:17 remaining in the game, a blocked punt by West St. John anda touchdown by Quonn Edwards, with a good extra point, made the game- ending score, West St. John 34 and St. Martin’s 6. This week, West St. John travels to cross-parish rival St. CharlesCatholic. St. Martin’s steps out of District 10-2A play when it travels toben Franklin.

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