MICHAEL KIRAL / L’Observateur / November 2, 1999

RESERVE – When golfer Walter Hagan stepped up to the first tee before a tournament, he used to ask who was playing for second.

That is a question that will be answered Friday night as East St. Johnhosts South Lafourche at Joe Keller Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30p.m.With Destrehan having wrapped up the District 7-5A title, the Wildcats and Tarpons will be trying to sew up a better spot in the playoff brackets that are to be released Sunday with both teams holding 4-1 records in district play. East St. John goes into the final week with a 6-3 overallmark while South Lafourche is 5-4.

East St. John is coming off a 49-34 victory over South Terrebonne lastFriday. Floyd Smith passed for 278 yards and a career-high fivetouchdowns on 11 completions in 17 attempts. Roy Del Williams had fourtouchdown receptions with Chris Bush adding a 56-yarder. Branden Augustcontributed 62 yards and a touchdown on the ground as the Wildcats rolled up 479 yards in offense.

But the East St. John defense also gave up 374 yards to South Terrebonne,including 358 yards on the ground. Joseph Cooper carried 26 times for 256yards and scored on runs of 20, 63, 40 and 72 yards.

“We won the game and that’s the most important thing,” East St. John headcoach Ronnie Stephens said. “But we have to play better. We have to playwith more enthusiasm.”East St. John will have to a better job of stopping the run against SouthLafourche’s wing-T offense. Fullback Gavin Buffinet ran for 107 yards andtwo touchdowns in the Tarpons’ 21-7 victory at Thibodaux last Friday.

Walter Nelson added a 53-yard touchdown as the Tarpons rolled up 238 yards on the ground. Joshua Allen, Devin Lewis and Anthony Pitre alsocome out of the backfield.

The aerial attack is led by quarterback Nathan Hanberry and receivers Sterling Mack and Aaron Montez. Trevor Bourg and Andy Griffin are the twoleading blockers up front.

South Lafourche’s defense gave up a lot of yards at the beginning of the season but has settled down in recent weeks. Last week, the Tarpons heldThibodaux to 169 total yards, 20 on the ground. The 40 defense is led byone of the district’s best linebackers in Terrence Alario. John Boudreauxand Cody Collins lead the backfield while Jon Shaw and Derrick Barrios provide pressure up front.

“South Lafourche is a good, aggressive football team,” Stephens said.

“They run the ball really well and play hard nose football.

“It’s a big game for both schools. We have got to stop the wing-T. If theycan run the ball, they can keep our offense on the sidelines and we can’t have that. The key is to stop them and get the ball.”

Hahnville – Thibodaux

BOUTTE – Hahnville will look to get into the position for the playoffs as the Tigers host Thibodaux Friday night.

Hahnville, coming off a 38-6 loss to Destrehan last Friday, enters the last week of the season with a 4-5 overall record and is 1-4 in District 7-5A play. Thibodaux is 3-6 overall and 2-3 in district. Hahnville was held to 183 yards against the Wildcats last Friday. DawanLandry, the second-leading passer in the River Parishes, provided much of the offense, completing 6-of-12 passes for 183 yards.

Thibodaux was also held in check in its 21-7 loss to South Lafourche last Friday. The Tigers were limited to 169 yards, 20 on the ground, and sixfirst downs. Thibodaux did not get onto the scoreboard until the fourthquarter when Robbie Hebert caught a 34-yard touchdown pass from Cliff Clement.

The Tigers have two top weapons in senior running back Derrick Coleman and senior split end Anson Dilion. Junior tackle Nathan Roger and seniorguard Travis Alleman lead the line.

On defense, senior linebacker Blake Trosclair, tackle Jeremy Chiasson and end Josh Becnel provide pressure.

The game also marks the return of head coach Shawn Preston to Hahnville.

Preston was an assistant for Hahnville last year and has also coached at St. James.

Destrehan – Hammond

DESTREHAN – Coming off a 38-6 victory over Hahnville that clinched a fourth straight district championship, Destrehan will begin preparing for the playoffs when it travels to Hammond Friday night.

Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.The victory over the Tigers was the sixth straight for the Wildcats and improved them to 8-1 overall, 6-0 in District 7-5A play. It was alsoDestrehan’s fourth straight win in the cross-parish series The Wildcat defense set the tone in the game, holding Hahnville to 183 total yards and keeping the Tigers off the scoreboard until the final 38 seconds of the game. Destrehan forced three turnovers with Donnie Hollisreturning an interception 24 yards for a touchdown.

This week, the Wildcats will be facing another team noted for its defense in Hammond. Hammond is coming off a 13-10 District 6-5A loss toCovington, snapping the Tors’ 20-game winning streak in district play.

Hammond goes into Friday night’s season finale with a record of 6-3 overall and 5-1 in district.

The Tors defense held Covington to 70 total yards and five first downs in the contest. Covington punted on all but one possession in the first halfand on that lone drive, fumbled, with the Tors’ Devin Conwell recovering it in the end zone for a touchdown.

But the Hammond offense also could not get untracked. The Tors were heldto 150 yards and committed two turnovers, one on their own 1-yard line that led to a score. Hammond also had a punt blocked that led to thewinning field goal.

The Hammond defense is led by senior linebacker Marvin Jones, a preseason all-state selection. Senior strong safety Chad White was asecond team selection. Senior defensive end Chaz Morgan and juniordefensive end Joe Ray lead the line while juniors Jarrell Carter and Birice McGee join White in the backfield. That defense had an 18-quarterscoreless streak earlier in the season.

The offense is led by senior quarterback Brady Sledge. Joining Sledge inthe backfield are juniors Wyatt Vial and D.J. Jackson and senior HabibRuffin.

Sledge has a trio of receivers to look to in senior tight end Jay Landry and split end Brice Albritton.

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