MICHAEL KIRALL’Observateur / November 30, 1998

NEW ORLEANS – Jesuit used ball control and a strong defense to contain Destre-han’s high-powered offense, blanking the Wild-cats, 13-0, in the state quarterfinals Friday night at Tad Gormley Stadium.

Jesuit, 7-5, advances to the semifinals for the third straight season and fifth time in the 1990s. The Blue Jays will host the winner of theSulphur-Ruston game Friday night. Destrehan, which had opened the seasonwith a win over the Blue Jays at home, finished the season at 9-3.

Jesuit controlled the ball for over 17 minutes of the second half. Seniorrunning back Brandt Quick led the way, rushing for 175 yards on 33 carries, including a 49-yard touchdown early in the fourth quarter. TheJesuit defense held Destrehan to 162 total yards and intercepted Wen-dell Smith twice.

Traun Smith led Destrehan with 50 yards on 13 carries. Wendell Smithcompleted 6 of his 10 passes for 56 yards.

The first half was a defensive struggle as each team had 77 yards in offense and combined to punt eight times. On the Blue Jays’ fourthpossession of the game, Damien Richard intercepted Perrin Rittner’s pass at the Jesuit 46-yard and returned it to the 33.

After a clip brought the ball back to the 48, the Wildcats picked up a first down as Wendell Smith hit Danny Krieger for 8 yards and Karon Leobaux picked up two more to the 38. But as the second half opened, an illegalprocedure call and sacks by Jason Baer and Brandon Mohr ended the drive.

Jesuit took over at its own 34 two possessions later and finally got its offense going. Quick opened the drive with an 11-yard gain off the leftside, the Blue Jays’ initial first down of the game at the six minute mark.

Four more runs by Quick and an offsides call on Destrehan gave Jesuit a first down at the Wildcat 31-yard line.

On third-and-8 from the 29, Rittner called his own number, going up the middle for 24 yards to the 5. The Wildcats then stuffed Quick threestraight times, forcing Jesuit to attempt a 21-yard field goal. The kick byRicky Rodrigue was good, giving Jesuit a 3-0 lead with 22 seconds left in the half.

Destrehan had an opportunity to answer on its ensuing drive as Traun Smith gained eight yards on the first play from scrimmage from the 35.

Richard Jones followed with a 16-yard sweep to the right.

A face masking penalty on Jesuit gave the Wildcats a first down at the Blue Jays 26 with one second left. But Jesuit forced Wendell Smith toscramble on the final play, gaining 11 yards before being brought down at the 15 as time expired.

Destrehan started its first possession of the second half on its 37 and drove to the Jesuit 45 behind an 11-yard run by Wendell Smith. On third-and-3 from the 45, Traun Smith was stacked up for a yard loss and the Wildcats were forced to punt.

Jesuit took over at its 10 and began a 13-play drive that took 5:58 off the clock. Will Washington had a 12-yard run and Quick had runs of nine andseven on the drive that ended at the Jesuit 49.

On their ensuing possession, Jesuit took over at its 44. On third-and-3from the Destrehan 49, Quick hit the right side, bounced outside and went down the sidelines for the score. Rodrigue added the extra point, making it10-0 with 9:45 left in the game.

Destrehan looked to answer on its next possession as Traun Smith broke up the middle for 15 yards to the Wildcat 41.

Wendell Smith followed with completions to Krieger and Traun Smith on the left side for gains of 11 and seven yards, respectively.

An 11-yard strike to Traun Smith over the middle gave Destrehan a first down at the Jesuit 38. But two plays later, Gary Bordelon stepped in frontof Traun Smith at the 18 for the interception, returning it to the 21.

Jesuit took over and ate up 5:55 of the clock on a 12-play, 60-yard drive.

It was Quick doing the damage again, carrying 10 times for 53 yards.

Rodrigue came in to kick a 36-yard field goal, making it 13-0 with 46 seconds remaining.

Joseph Fradella ended Destrehan’s final threat, intercepting Wendell Smith at the Destrehan 48-yard line.

Return To Sports Stories

Copyright © 1998, Wick Communications, Inc.

Internet services provided by NeoSoft.

Best viewed with 3.0 or higher