MICHAEL KIRAL / L’Observateur / September 29, 1999

RESERVE – The Battle of the River Parishes, District 7-5A, Part I is finished with East St. John holding off Hahnville, 28-27, last Friday.Part II will commence this week as East St. John hosts Destrehan Fridaynight at Joe Keller Stadium.

Destrehan comes into the game 3-1 overall and 1-0 in District 7-5A. EastSt. John enters with a 2-2 mark overall and 1-0 in district play.Destrehan has had East St. John’s number the last three years, usingvictories over the Wildcats as a springboard to three consecutive district titles. Destrehan holds a 24-22-0 lead in the series that dates back to1932.

East St. John will look to end the three-game losing streak Friday night.The Wildcats are coming off the victory against Hahnville, the third straight year they have beaten the Tigers by a point. Linebacker BrysonWhite saved the victory by sacking Dawan Landry on a two-point attempt after Hahnville had scored with 57 seconds left.

“It was a great high school football game,” East St. John coach RonnieStephens said. “Both teams played hard for 48 minutes. It wasn’t decideduntil the end and we were fortunate enough to get the sack.”Quarterback Floyd Smith, who had been out since the third quarter of the St. James game in week two with a separated (non-throwing) shoulder,came in after halftime to complete 7-of-18 passes for 140 yards and a touchdown to Roydel Williams. Randy Sutherland started and helped theWildcats to a 14-all tie at the break by completing 5-of-11 passes for 133 yards and two touchdowns.

“I’m proud of Randy,” Stephens said. “He came in during a difficultsituation and did his job. We wouldn’t have been in a position to win if hehadn’t done it.

“I felt like bringing Floyd in would give us a boost. He’s our leader and weneeded him. It’s nothing Randy did. It was just a gut feeling and it paid offfor us.”Now, the focus turns to the preseason favorite to win the district Destrehan. Stephens said that coming off an emotional victory over a localrival, there should not be a letdown this week.

“We’ve got to be ready to play every week,” Stephens said. “Every team indistrict has the capability to beat the other. If we have a letdown, then wewill not be able to win the football game. Destrehan will be ready to playand we will be too. It should be another dandy.”Destrehan also had a dandy against Thibodaux last Friday. Dernell Arlineintercepted a pass with 1:35 remaining, preserving the Wildcats’ 9-7 victory. Deron Love powered the victory, rushing 24 times for 136 yards.DeChad Ward scored the Wildcats’ lone touchdown on a 1-yard run.

Destrehan held Thibodaux to 69 yards and intercepted two Tiger passes.

Ivan Mashia struggled Friday with 30 yards passing but has been solid for the season. The senior is among the area leaders in passing with 471 yardsand three touchdowns. Love is also among the local leaders in rushingyards.

Stephens said the key for his team is maintaining the ball and keeping Destrehan from hitting the big plays.

“We’ve got to move the football,” Stephens said. “We haven’t been able tomove the football against them the last three years. We have to eliminatemistakes in the kicking game and keep them from making the big play. Ifwe can make them work to move the ball and we can move the football, we should have a chance to win it.”East St. John travels to Thibodaux next week while Destrehan hostsCentral Lafourche.

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