By GEORGE MAHL-Sports Editor

It was back to the gridiron for several area teams last week. Of the eight high schools in the River Parishes, five of them have had a practice under their belt. Hahnville did not begin practice because they were at a football camp last week, while Riverside Academy and St. Charles Catholic got things underway this week. Some schools are holding two-a-day practices, while others are just having one long practice.

“I like having one long practice because you don’t have to worry about getting rained out early in the morning,” said Destrehan Head Football Coach Stephen Robicheaux.

DHS currently practices from 3 P.M. – 7 P.M five days a week. Junior starting quarterback Demarko Hutchinson has been taking the majority of the snaps in practice for the Fighting Wildcats. The Wildcats take on St. Charles Catholic High School in the River Parishes Jamboree at Destrehan.

Until recently, East St. John Head Football Coach Larry Dauterive had been having his team do two-a-days during the week. The Wildcats had been practicing from 8 A.M – 10:30 A.M and from 5 P.M to around 7 P.M.

Over at Lutcher, Head Coach Tim Detillier is experimenting with a foreign exchange student from Holland as the teams place kicker. “He played soccer over in Holland so he knows how to kick,” Detillier said.

The Bulldogs have been going at it for about a week also, starting at around 3 P.M. Lutcher takes on Riverside Academy for the first time ever in the River Parishes Jamboree.

Despite problems with the weather at some schools, St. James has yet to really feel the wrath of Mother Nature during practice. “We have been fortunate,” said St. James Head Football Coach Rick Gaille. ” We have not had many problems with rain and have been practicing until dark.”

It seems Gaille has as many assistant coaches as an NFL team. During the off-season, he added former Central Lafourche Head Football Coach Randy Breaux to his staff, former Thibodaux assistant Lou Guillot and former Lutcher assistant Rowdy Martinez. St. James will take on Hahnville in the Jamboree later this month.