By Billy Gomila

Contributing Writer

Houma – It’s an old sports clich/ that big-time players make big-time plays in big-time games, but Friday night Destrehan’s Jai Eugene did just that, racking up 286 yards and four touchdowns as the Wildcats topped Terrebone High 35-13 in Houma.

The senior quarterback/defensive back , who will have his choice of some of the nation’s top college programs after this season, passed for 225 yards and three touchdowns and added 61 yards and another score on the ground as Destrehan leapt out to an early lead before the Tigers made things interesting in the second half.

Down 21-0 at halftime, Terrebone cut the lead with a 39-yard touchdown run by Sean Lewis followed by a 34-yard score by Brian Lewis, who picked off Eugene and raced in to make it a 21-13 game.

From there Eugene picked up his game, throwing a 20-yard touchdown to Edward Victory and rushing for 55 of his 61 yards, including a seven-yard scoring run that clinched the final score for the Wildcats.

“It’s real exciting to get this win,” said Destrehan head coach Stephen Robichaux. “(Terrebone) have some good looking kids.”

Eugene completed 16 of 30 passes, and connected to Edwin Reed (brother of Baltimore Ravens All-Pro Edward Reed) on touchdown passes of 50 and 29 yards in the first half. Eugene also made a spectacular play to set up another score, breaking loose from the pocket and hitting Joshua Martin for a 41-yard gain. The strike set up Raynor Derkins’ one yard plunge for the Wildcats’ other first-half touchdown. Derkins finished with 103 yards.

“Jai’s a good player, no doubt,” said Robichaux. “But he has good players around him. I’m really pleased with how he’s throwing now though.”

Like most coaches though, Robichaux had a few areas where he wants to see his team improve, most notably penalties. Mental mistakes – penalties of the false start and illegal procedure variety – have been problems for teams across the region. Robichaux chalks it up partially to the layoff and the major disruption Hurricane Katrina has brought the lives of everyone.

“I think so,” he said. “I get tired of using that excuse, but everybody has a lot of things going on. This was just our first real normal week of school and practice.”