MICHAEL KIRAL / L’Observateur / December 1, 1999

EDGARD – In a game that saw 81 points put up on the scoreboard, West St.

John came up with its biggest defensive stand of the season to preserve a 46-35 victory over Many in the Class 2A quarterfinals Friday night at the Sugar Dome.

West St. John (10-2) advances to play the winner of the Iota-St. ThomasAquinas game next week in the semifinals. It is the third straight seasonthat the Rams have advanced to the semifinals. Many finished its season at12-1.

The Rams took a 38-35 lead with 7:11 left in the game on a 35-yard pass from Carl Gauthier to Donriel Louis but Many started its next possession at its 47 after recovering the on-sides kick.

Darnell Williams carried three straight times to the Rams’ 26. On second-and-two, Robert Kelly gained six yards with an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty giving the Tigers a first down at the 10-yard line.

After Williams was stacked up on the line on first down, Amone Lumar hit him in the backfield for a 5-yard loss. Lumar then charged into thebackfield to sack Isom Scott for a 10-yard loss to the 25. Scott thenoverthrew a screen pass on fourth down, giving the Rams the ball back with 3:17 left.

Devin Herbert then helped the Rams wrap up the game, sweeping left twice, first for 29 yards and then for 42 yards, carrying the ball down to the 3-yard line. Clarence Isaac took it in from there on a sweep to theright and Gauthier hit Marlon Jackson for the conversion, upping the lead to 46-35.

Many drove to the Rams’ 24-yard line on its final possession before being stopped.

Gauthier finished the game with 22 completions in 34 attempts for 281 yards and five touchdowns. Louis had eight catches for 143 yards andthree touchdowns. Brian Lumar added six catches for 94 yards and a score. Amone Lumar carried seven times for 38 yards and caught two passes for 17 yards and a touchdown. Herbert led the Rams with 72 yards on fourcarries.

Williams led Many with 101 yards and two touchdowns on 21 carries. Healso caught three passes for 87 yards and a score and returned a kickoff 99 yards for a fourth touchdown.

Trailing 35-32 with 8:41 left, the Rams took over at their 33-yard line.

Gauthier hit Louis for 10 yards and gained 14 on a scramble. After an 8-yard pass to Jeremy Lumar to the 35, Gauthier threw deep down the left sidelines for Louis who made a juggling catch while falling backwards into the end zone. The try for two failed, leaving the score at 38-35 with7:11 left.

Trailing 28-26 at halftime, West St. John took over its opening possessionof the second half at its 37 and went 63 yards in 15 plays, aided by two clutch catches. On third-and-20 from the West St. John 43, Brian Lumarleapt high to snare a Gauthier pass at the 32 for a 25-yard gain.

With the Rams facing a fourth-and-2 at the 12, Gauthier threw a low pass to Jackson who made a shoestring catch at the 8. Louis scored on a reversetwo plays later, sweeping right for the score. The extra point was blocked,leaving the score at 32-28 with 5:16 left in the third quarter.

Many stopped the Rams at the Tiger 20 early in the fourth quarter and came up with a clutch play of its own on its next possession. On third-and-17 from the 23, Scott flipped a screen pass to Williams. Williamsweaved his way through the Rams defense and broke into the clear, taking it up the middle for the score. Terrace White’s extra point was good,giving Many a 35-32 lead with 8:46 remaining.

Many started the fireworks as Williams received the opening kickoff of the game at his 16, fumbled, picked it up, swept around the left side and went down the sidelines before being caught from behind by Devin Herbert at the West St. John 25. On the first play from scrimmage, Williams wentoff the right side and swept in for the score. Terrace White’s extra pointmade it 7-0 17 seconds into the game.

Many got the ball right back as Seth Freeman recovered a Amone Lumar fumble at the West St. John 49-yard line. The Tigers then drove 49 yardsin 14 plays, converting three fourth down plays. Williams capped the driveby sweeping left and cutting in from six yards out. White again converted,increasing the lead to 14-0 with 4:27 left in the first quarter.

A 26-yard run by Amone Lumar set up the Rams’ first score on the ensuing possession. Gauthier added an 11-yard run and passes of 7 and 12 yards toBrian Lumar, giving the Rams a first down at the Many 10.

Gauthier then found Louis on a post pattern for the score. The try for twowas tipped away, leaving the score at 14-6 with 2:19 remaining in the first quarter.

Special teams and defense set up the tying score for the Rams. BrianLumar’s punt from the Many 43 was downed at the 1. Two plays later,Arlanda Comminie intercepted a Scott pass at the 9-yard line.

On the first play after the turnover, Gauthier hit Amone Lumar in the right flat with Lumar diving in for the score. Gauthier then found MarlonJackson for the tying two-pointer with 6:38 left.

Many quickly answered as Frank Warfield took the kickoff at the 5, handed off to Williams who reversed it to Scott. Scott swept around the left sideand went down the sidelines to complete the 95-yard return. Scott thenfaked the extra point attempt and passed to Williams for the two-point conversion, making it 22-14 with 6:21 left.

Brian Lumar set up the next score by returning the kick to the West St.

John 47 and then catching passes of 18 and 21 yards to the Many 14. Aroughing the passer call on third-and-20 gave the Rams a first down at the 12-yard line.

On the ensuing play, Louis made a leaping grab of a Gauthier pass in the left corner of the end zone. The try for two failed, keeping Many in thelead at 22-20.

It was deja vue on the ensuing kickoff as Scott fielded the ball at the one and reversed it to Williams. Williams went down the left sidelines,outrunning a tackle to complete the 99-yard return. White’s kick failed,leaving the score at 28-20.

Brian Lumar again set up the Rams in good field position, returning the kickoff to the West St. John 49. Gauthier completed four straight passes,including a 29-yarder to Louis who made a juggling catch at the Many 11.

Gauthier then found Brian Lumar in the right flat for the score. The try fortwo was fumbled, leaving the game at 28-26 at the half.

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