LEONARD GRAY / L’Observateur / October 28, 2000

BOUTTE – It was the battle of St. Charles Parish and Hahnville’s Tigers edgedout this year’s 7-6 victory over the Destrehan Fighting Wildcats.

The turf war was largely defense-driven, with both offense squads struggling to gain ground. Only a bobbled conversion try after Destrehan’s touchdownmade the point difference.

Other game highlights included failed field goal tries by each team and several plays crippled by wild snaps.

Hahnville accepted the opening kickoff at their own 29-yard line and were unable to move more than two yards by a pumped Wildcat defense. The puntplaced Destrehan back at their own 34-yard line.

Destrehan likewise found the Tiger defense equal to the occasion and soon punted after stalling before mid-field. Again, Hahnville struggled from theirown 8-yard line and punted.

With 6:55 on the clock, the crowd came to its feet as a Randy Roth pass to Fred Smith came down on the Tiger 11-yard line with a diving 48-yard reception. On fourth down, Jonathan Scifres attempted a 31-yard field goal,which flew wide right and, with 5:08 left in the first quarter, the game remained scoreless.

It wouldn’t be that way for long, as Hahnville took over and Dawan Landry led his troops deep into Wildcat country. Another crowd-grabber was the 38-yard Mark Young reception which put the Tigers on the Wildcat 29-yard line.

Four plays later, with 1:23 in first-quarter time left, Skylar Boyle swept right and in for the opening touchdown. Matt Cummins added the game-winning PAT and the Tigers were up 7-0.

Destrehan, determined not to lay back, took the kickoff and drove as far at their 35-yard line before the punt play, where an illegal participation call on Hahnville placed the ball back in the Wildcats’ hands on their own 40-yard line.

Going into the second quarter, Roth let fly with a 35-yard pass to Craig Eugene down to the Hahanville 9-yard line. On the next play, Roth was sackedby Ryan Keys with the loss of a yard. On the play following, Roth snapped apass to Richard Jones for the touchdown with 8:55 remaining to the first half.

The vital play looked at first like a poor snap, and Scifres attempted to run, then possibly pass the ball for a two-point conversion but the play fell apart and Destrehan trailed, 7-6.

From that point, it was defense all the way to the final buzzer. It seemedalmost every possession which followed in the first half was snake-bit by either penalties, bad snaps or quarterback sacks.

Hahnville’s next possession, which drove from their own 25-yard line and ended at Destrehan’s 23, was hurt by a high snap which sent Dawan Landry scurrying back to pick up the loose ball, forfeiting 11 yards in the process. Itended when the Tigers fell short of a first down by inches at the Wildcat 23- yard line.

Destrehan took over with 5:35 remaining to the half and was almost immediately hit by an illegal procedure penalty. The punt which soon followedput the Tigers back at their own 31, but a clipping call on Hahnville, as well as Skylar Boyle being caught in the backfield by Quentin Bradley stalled the Tigers as well.

Destrehan took the punt at their own 36 and on the next play, Roth was nailed for a five-yard loss by Avery Lorio.

In the third quarter, Destrehan accepted the opening kickoff at their own 38 and only managed seven yards before punting. Hahnville, playing muchcleaner, drove from their own 10, all the way to the Destrhan 33-yard line.

There, with 3:33 remaining to the third quarter, Cummins tried a 50-yard field goal and fell short.

The Wildcats’ next possession consisted of three incomplete passes, followed by a punt to the Hahnville 33-yard line. This Tiger possession washurt by another bad snap, which caused a seven-yard loss to the Tiger 42- yard line.

The punt started Destrehan back at their own 15. The visiting crowd came totheir feet early soon after the start of the fourth quarter, when Dechad Ward broke free and scrambled all the way to the Tiger 15-yard line, but a holding call brought the play back to the Destrehan 23. An illegal procedurecall followed against the Wildcats and soon they punted back to the Tigers.

In a series led by backup quarterback Nick Cannon, Hahnville started at their own 20-yard line and only gained a net three yards before punting across the midfield stripe to the Wildcats.

Again, Destrehan’s passing fell inadequate, and Hahnville took over on downs on their own 47-yard line with 1:48 remaining in the game.

With the game in hand, the Tigers ate up the clock and sealed the district title and more importantly, the parish title for this year.

Next week, Hahnville wraps up district play at Thibodaux, while Destrehan hosts Hammond.

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