MICHAEL KIRAL / L’Observateur / October 4, 2000

ST. JAMES – St. James is off to an uncharacteristic slow start, going 3-2 innon-district play.

But the Wildcats can start to put that behind them as they open District 9- 3A play Friday night at Donaldsonville. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.St. James is coming off a 33-14 victory over Booker T. Washington lastFriday. The Wildcats were helped out by a series of big plays, starting withDavin Dennis’ 91-yard return of the opening kickoff. Dennis also caught a 25-yard touchdown pass from Chris Hymel and Montrell Steib scored on runs of 30 and 32 yards.

Unfortunately for the Wildcats, Steib broke his ankle midway through the second quarter. Up to that point, he had rushed for 113 yards on sixattempts.

St. James finished the game with 161 yards rushing and 35 passing. TheWildcats’ defense kept Booker T. Washington off the scoreboard until thefourth quarter and held the Lions to 186 total yards in offense.

St. James opens district play against a Donaldsonville team that has won itslast two games. The latest win came over Ellender, 33-7, Friday night,improving the Tigers to 2-3 on the season.

Antonio Johnson and Dio Bernard led the way for the Tigers. Johnson scoredthree times while rushing for 128 yards. Bernard added 108 yards and twotouchdowns. Terrance Brown had 100 yards as Donaldsonville rolled up 418yards on the ground and 492 yards in offense.

Donaldsonville’s defense held Ellender to 186 yards in offense, 151 coming on the ground, and intercepted two passes. That defense is led by anexperienced secondary of Johnson, Jamor Collins and Jamall Landry.

On offense, Brown is back for his senior season. He had a 1,000-yard seasonas a sophomore in 1998. Johnson, Bernard and Mike Lymon join him in thebackfield. Split end Edmond Joseph is the top receiver. Joseph had 17catches for 209 yards going into last week’s game.

The concern for the Tigers comes at the line on both sides of the ball where only one starter, guard Jarrod Brown, returns.

Last season, St. James blanked Donaldsonville at home, 27-0. Leslie Aubertrushed for 119 yards and a touchdown and also caught a touchdown pass from Corey Webster.

The Wildcats held the Tigers to minus 15 yards in offense and forced four turnovers. Donaldsonville’s last win in the series came in 1991.This is the last time St. James will go up against a Jimmy Dykes-coached Donaldsonville team. Dykes is retiring after 28 years as a coach, the last 13coming as the team’s head coach.

Next week, St. James returns home to play St. Charles Catholic in District 9-3A play.

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