By JOHNNY PEPPO

Sports Editor

DESTREHAN – Lutcher and Destrehan fans saw their prep football teams get off on the right foot as the Bulldogs opened up with an 18-7 win over the St. Charles Comets and the DHS Wildcats got a 21-0 win over Riverside’s Rebels.

Come the 6:30 p.m. kickoff, it was by no means a clean game for 3A Lutcher and 2A St. Charles as heavy showers and thunderstorms soaked down the field for a game that started quickly with a trick play by the Comets. On the second snap of their opening possession, SCC senior Chase Fletcher took an end-around 45 yards that led to a 7-0 lead.

The Bulldogs were unable to convert on the ensuing series, but quickly regained possession on a fumbled punt inside the Comet 10-yard line. On second down, LHS got on the scoreboard with a short gash from senior running back Rashad Webster and brought it to 7-6 after a failed PAT.

The Bulldogs regained the lead soon after that when defensive back Frederick Thomas snagged an interception at mid-field and raced to the end zone. Another failed conversion left it 12-7.

LHS wasted little time in getting the second half momentum. On the opening possession, quarterback Blaine Gauthier handed off to senior Khymest Williams, who burst free and slashed the defense for an 82-yard run and score and an 18-7 score. That’s how it would end as neither team was able to break onto the scoreboard for the remainder of the half.

The late game saw 5A Destrehan hosting 2A Riverside on an already worn field to a 7-0 halftime lead in favor of the Wildcats. That came courtesy of a touchdown pass from newcomer Jordan Jefferson to veteran Tim Molten.

Jefferson returned to the air in the second half for a pair of touchdowns, the first to Lionel Washington on a catch-and-run that covered 41 yards for a score. Jefferson connected for a third TD that covered two of his 174 passing yards with a strike to Terrence Williams with just more than four minutes remaining and the eventual 21-0 win.

The story of the game though, was Lutcher’s ability to even compete, as a fire had destroyed much of the Bulldogs fieldhouse and all of their football equipment.

LHS coach Tim Detillier said after the game that he was just grateful to be able to take the field after all of the adversity that his squad has seen in the past year.

&#8220Just to be back out on the field is a blessing, and to be back in our own colors is all that we could ask for. The decals for the helmets that these guys wore didn’t come in until Thursday afternoon so we took it down to the deadline there. But just getting out there after all of this makes me proud of this team.”