MICHAEL KIRAL / L’Observateur / October 11, 2000

EDGARD – The faces on both sides may have changed but one thing will be the same when West St. John hosts Riverside Friday night – first place inDistrict 9-2A will be on the line.

It’s been that way since the Rams moved up to Class 2A in 1997. Thatyear, West St. John won at Riverside on its way to the district title.Riverside reciprocated the following season at West St. John on its way tothe district championship. The Rebels won again last season at home,taking the district lead before losing to Newman later in the season.

In each of the last two seasons, the Rams have bounced back from regular season losses to the Rebels to defeat them in the playoffs. Two years ago,it was for all the marbles as West St. John defeated Riverside in the Class2A state championship game. Last season, the Rams eliminated the Rebelsin the regional playoffs.

Friday’s game will again be for first place in District 9-2A. Riverside,ranked second in Class 2A, enters with an overall record of 6-0 and a record of 2-0 in District 9-2A. West St. John, ranked fifth, is 3-0 indistrict play and 5-1 overall.

Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. at West St. John’s Sugar Dome.Both teams got standout performances by their defenses in wins last Friday. Riverside held E.D. White to 138 yards and no points offensively ina 27-17 victory. The Rebels’ Ray Cella also got a hand on a punt and SeanDelaneuville had a late interception. The Cardinals’ only points came via asafety and a 65-yard kickoff return.

West St. John was even stingier in a 22-8 victory over Buras. The Ramslimited the Wildcats to 123 yards, 96 coming on the ground. Buras’ LynnHenry was held to 3-of-17 passing for 27 yards and was sacked three times. West St. John’s Lionel Howard also blocked a punt that set up thegame’s first touchdown.

Both teams also had their offenses clicking. West St. John had 223 yardsin offense. Randall Nicholson completed 8-of-17 passes for 129 yards andtwo touchdowns. Devin Herbert ran for 95 yards and a touchdown on 13attempts.

Riverside did most of its damage on the ground, gaining 238 yards on 41 carries. Jared St. Amant had a team-high 89 yards and a touchdown on fivecarries. Damian Melancon had 58 yards and a score on 13 attempts and alsocompleted 9-of-18 passes for 127 yards and two touchdowns. BrittWaguespack added 50 yards on 14 attempts.

Both teams have players among the statistical leaders locally. Herbert isthe leading rusher in the River Parishes with 644 yards and 10 touchdowns on 84 carries. Waguespack is right behind with 537 yards andnine touchdowns on 63 carries. Melancon has completed 38-of-68 passesfor 678 yards and seven touchdowns. Nicholson is 42-of-87 passing for536 yards and six touchdowns. Riverside’s Gary Entremont also has 28catches for 506 yards and seven touchdowns.

In last year’s regular season game, Riverside overcame a second half rally by the Rams to pull out a 29-22 win. West St. John had rallied from a 22-8halftime deficit to pull even at 22. Casey Remondet put the Rebels backahead with a 38-yard touchdown run with 1:10 left and Ryan Weber tipped away a pass from Carl Gauthier in the end zone on the game’s final play.

West St. John got its revenge in the Class 2A regionals, rolling to a 38-0victory at Riverside. The Rams gained 405 yards in the game and held theRebels to 119 yards. Gauthier passed for 278 yards and four touchdowns. Both teams are home next week for District 9-2A contests. Riversideplays host to Ridgewood while West St. John welcomes Redeemer-Seton.

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