MICHAEL KIRAL / L’Observateur / November 8, 2000

DESTREHAN – It’s appropriate that the Shreveport area is home to Barksdale Air Force Base. Because this week there will be an aerial war going on in thearea when Destrehan hooks up with Evangel in the Class 5A bi-district playoffs.

The game will feature two of the most prolific quarterbacks in the state – Evangel’s Brent Rawls and Destrehan’s Randy Roth. Rawls, a senior, led thestate in passing going into the final week of the regular season with 2,597 yards and 26 touchdowns. Included in that total was a 465-yard, threetouchdown game against Byrd, Sept. 22, a 373-yard, three-touchdown effortagainst Southwood Oct. 20 and a 341-yard, three touchdown game againstFair Park Sept. 29.Roth, also a senior, is not far behind Rawls. Roth threw for 1,955 yards and18 touchdowns in the regular season, including 302 yards and one touchdown against Slidell in the first game of the season.

Against Hammond Friday night in the season finale, he passed for 219 yards and a touchdown and ran for another in a 32-17 Destrehan win.

Both quarterbacks have a standout receiver to throw to. Fred Smith caughtnine passes for 150 yards and a touchdown Friday, increasing his season totals to 1,027 yards and 11 touchdowns on 46 catches.

Evangel’s Thomas Bachman had 45 catches for 726 yards and eight touchdowns going into the final week.

Both teams enter the game with 8-2 records. Evangel wrapped up anotherDistrict 1-5A championship while Destrehan finished third in District 7-5A.

Evangel, like Destrehan, closed out its season with a win Friday, defeating Natchitoches-Central, 29-8. It was the Eagles’ eighth straight victory afterstarting the season at 0-2.

And while both teams are known for their offenses, both have strong defenses. Destrehan allowed 41 points in district play and 78 points overall,both best in District 7-5A. The Wildcats held Hammond to 198 total yardsFriday, 90 coming on one run in the second quarter, after holding Hahnville to seven points the week before.

Of course, helping out that effort was an offense that gained 414 yards, including 195 on the ground. Dechad Ward went for 191 of them and scoredtwice on 26 attempts.

Evangel, the defending Class 5A state champions, lost linebacker Steve Lee but brought back Phillip Maxwell, one of the top-rated linebackers in the state. Joining him at linebacker are John Michael Morgan, Brian Luke andJared Clinton.

The front four continues to be solid for the Eagles, led by tackle Justin McIntyre. Also on the line are Chase Pittman, Reggie Banks and QuinceyGlover. In the secondary are Andrew Ward, Jonathan Melvin and JonathanWade.

The offense is less experienced. Rawls moved over from receiver to follow inthe footsteps of Brock Berlin, Phillip Deas and Josh Booty. Center CraigDeSoto and tackle David Griffin were the only returning starters on the line.

The backfield was also new with Ahmad Lewis, who also moved over from receiver, Quentin Bell and Chester Johnson.

The winner Friday travels on to the regionals to play the winner of St. Amantand Comeaux.

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