LEONARD GRAY / L’Observateur / November 15, 1999

DESTREHAN – Despite starting off well and keeping the game at a see-saw level for more than three quarters of play, Destrehan’s Fighting Wildcats fell short of the playoff win Friday night against the Holy Cross Tigers, 24-21.

Holy Cross (7-4) advances to the Class 5A regionals against the Shaw- Acadiana winner while Destrehan finishes the season at 8-3.

In an evening filled with surprise plays and turnovers, this time it was the Wildcats” turn to take it on the chin as their season ended on their own home turf.

Holy Cross accepted the opening kickoff at their own 35 and slowly advanced to midfield before the arm of John Wattigny connected on a 21- yard pass to Jerome Landry to move the ball within striking distance in the opening drive. Four plays later, coming off a 1-yard loss, a passconnected with Landry to the Wildcat 15, and Brandon Baimonte rolled in on the next play for the touchdown. The point after by Brian Watson wasgood for the 7-0 lead with 7:51 remaining in the first quarter.

Destrehan wasn’t one to let the game go stale, though, as their kickoff return by Damien Richard got the ball to midfield. From there, Ivan Mashianailed Deron Love for the touchdown on the first play from scrimmage.

Jonathan Scifres’ point after was good to tie the score at 7 with 7:32 left in the quarter.

Following the kickoff, the Tigers rumbled from their own 24-yard line to the Destrehan 15 before a pass to Dennis Smith was fumbled in the end zone and Todd Picou nailed the touchback to set up the Wildcats at their own 20-yard line.

On the next play, a high snap resulted in a fumble, recovered by Corey Jackson for the Tigers at the Wildcat 10. However, the Destrehan defenseheld, even as the ball was edged to the 2-yard line where the Wildcats took over on downs with 36 seconds left to the period. A punt early in thesecond quarter only got the ball out to the Wildcat 25.

From there, Holy Cross again threatened and the Destrehan defense held on to keep the Tigers from the end zone. They settled for a 21-yard field goalby Brian Watson with 9:08 remaining in the half to take a 10-7 lead.

The Wildcats accepted the kickoff and launched their next scoring drive from their own 24-yard line. Boosted by a 16-yard run by Mashia and a 47-yard run by Dechad Ward along the visitors’ sideline to the Holy Cross 13- yard line, Destrehan continued to pound on their visitors.

Three plays later, Mashia connected to Allen Decker on a 7-yard pass for the touchdown with six minutes remaining in the half. Scifres’ point afterwas good for the 14-10 Wildcat lead.

Holy Cross took their next possession from their own 39-yard line and, faced with relentless takedowns in the backfield by the Destrehan defense, ended up punting to the Wildcat 40-yard stripe with 3:20 left in the second quarter clock.

The home team managed little and the punt was partially deflected. Theloose ball was covered by Holy Cross and the Tigers took over at the Destrehan 37-yard line with a minute and a half remaining. Seven playslater, Wattigny scored for Holy Cross on a 1-yard run with 21 seconds left in the half. The point after by Watson was good, and the Tigers were backin the lead, 17-14.

Destrehan’s time of possession in the third quarter ate up 6:20 from the clock, as Mashia and the Wildcats crept downfield with a series of passes and a 46-yard pass play from Mashia to Fred Smith to the Holy Cros 23. Atthe end, on fourth down at the Holy Cross 20, Scifres lined up for a 37- yard field goal try.

Unexpectedly, holder Danny Krieger stood up, fired and connected with Damien Richard in the end zone for the surprise touchdown with 5:40 remaining in the third quarter. Scifres did nail the extra point, and theWildcats were again ahead, 21-17.

Beginning at the Wildcat 46-yard line in the third quarter, the Tigers swept to the Destrehan 4-yard line with a 42-yard reception by Gino Giambelluca. On the next play, Chris Dupuy rumbled in for the go-aheadscore with 3:21 remaining I the third quarter. The extra point was good,and Holy Cross led 24-21.

The Wildcats’ next possession swept down to the Tiger 35-yard line, but an interception by Chris Thompson for Holy Cross suddenly became a fumble and Tiger Ryan Willis recovered at the Tiger 34-yard line, all this with 1:37 remaining in the third.

The end result of that effort was a relentless pursuit by the Destrehan defense, who caused the visitors to backtrack 10 yards before punting up to their own 35 after the punt was partly deflected early in the fourth quarter.

Six plays later, with 10:14 remaining, Scifres tried a 40-yard field goal, but fell short and Holy Cross took over at their own 20.

Penalties crippled the Wildcat effort, personal foul in one instance and clipping in another, and Holy Cross was able to edged out to midfield before punting.

With the ball nailed deep in their own backfield, the Wildcats struggled to get out but gave up possession on downs at their own 40 with 1:51 remaining in the game.

Holy Cross ate up the clock to 0:19 before giving up the ball on downs but Destrehan was unable to capitalize on its final drive.

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