By GEORGE MAHL

DESTREHAN – The Evangel Christian Academy-Destrehan High School quarterfinal game figured to be a competitive one and it lived up to its billing.

With ECA leading 28-21 near the end of the game, DHS starting quarterback Demarko Hutchinson throw an incomplete pass on fourth down and 7, thus ending the Fighting Wildcats drive and season.

“Demarko is a great athlete. He gave us everything he had tonight,”said DHS head coach Stephen Robicheaux.

Hutchinson finished the game by going 18-37 for 241 yards. However, the junior starter threw two crucial interceptions. On their opening possession, Evangel marched the ball down the field to the Fighting Wildcat 12-yard line. However, on fourth and nine quarterback John Booty found sophomore wide receiver Denny Duron in the corner of the endzone to give the Eagles a quick 7-0 lead.

The drive quickly silenced the 7,000-plus in attendance at Fighting Wildcats Stadium. Destrehan (11-2) got the ball back and went on a 10-play, 65-yard drive resulting in a five yard touchdown pass from Hutchinson to wide receiver Craig Eugene. A third and 10 sideline completion from Hutchinson to Fred Smith kept the drive alive.

Smith, a senior, caught seven passes for 70 yards. With the scored tied at seven, the No. 1 5A seed went 71 yards on 10 plays to take a 14-7 lead thanks to a three yard touchdown run from junior running back Detrick James. During the drive, Evangel, who will play Rummel High School next week, used a ball control offense by running the ball for nine out of the ten plays. James rushed four times for 31 yards on the drive.

After blowing out it’s previous playoff opponents, the Shreveport school held only a 14-7 lead at halftime. The beginning of the third quarter saw DHS take the ball down the field only to see their drive stall when Hutchinson threw his first of two interceptions.

This time linebacker Jason Rogers picked it off giving Evangel good field position. It seemed ECA was beginning to pick up momentum again. But two critical penalties against deep in Destrehan territory proved to be costly as Jared Jennings missed a 37-yard field goal. The Wildcats took over at their own 20-yard line and drove 80 yards that was capped off by a Hutchinson to Smith 13-yard touchdown pass tying the score at 14-14. With 2:09 left in the third, Jacob Hester ran 34 yards for a touchdown to give the Eagles a 21-14 lead.

Another ECA touchdown, courtesy of running back Jacob Hester, put the Eagles up 28-14. Hester finished the game with 26 carries for 186 yards. Then, Hutchinson scored on a two-yard touchdown run to pull the Fighting Wildcats within a touchdown. The starting QB ran circles in the backfield avoiding a fierce rush in order to score the TD.

The effort was there for the home team Friday night, according to Robicheaux.

“We played well against a good football team. I don’t think many people expected us to go 11-2 and advance this far in the playoffs.”

Not only was it a bad night for Destrehan, but it was also a bad night for a Fighting Wildcats rival. The Hahnville High School Tigers were also elminated. HHS dropped a 41-21 loss to Acadiana High School in Lafayette.

Hahnville finishes the season at 11-2. The Tigers only regular season loss was to South Lafourche.