By RYAN ARENA
Sports Editor

By RYAN ARENA

Sports Editor

St. James sophomore Jaleel Steib didn’t have to wait long for an opportunity to kick his first game-winning field goal of 2008. In fact, it came sooner than he, or anyone else, could have ever imagined.

 The Ed Reed River Parishes Jamboree was originally scheduled to be played over two nights, Thursday and Friday. But the Friday portion – games St. James, Hahnville, Lutcher and Destrehan to be played at Hahnville – were moved to Thursday night due to concerns about Hurricane Gustav.

 Steib’s 26-yard field goal was good with seven second left, relieving the deadlock between the Wildcats and Hahnville. The Tigers’ last gasp was foiled when Alonzo Lewis intercepted a Guiseppe Crovetto pass, ending the game and netted St. James a 10-7 win.

 Steib’s kick opportunity was set up after Hahnville’s Brandon Larousse missed a 42-yard field goal. The Wildcats would drive into field goal range from their 20-yard line.

 “We definitely played much better at the end of the game than we did for most of the second half,” said St. James coach Rick Gaille.

“You have to be happy with the result. At the same time, there’s plenty for both of our teams to work on.”

 Senior running back Kenny Zenon scored the Wildcats’ lone touchdown, a 65-yard score on the third play of the game.

 St. James led 7-0 at halftime. But Hahnville would tie the game when Jai Steib scored from 10 yards away.

 “I thought all of our running backs played very well,” said Hahnville Coach Lou Valdin. “It was a bright spot for us. Steib, Alfred Blue, and Lloyd Richard each had a good game.”

 Jaleel Steib’s kick to win the game for St. James prevented the two teams from finishing in a 7-7 tie for the second consecutive year.

Each team enters 2008 in largely the same boat, having to replace a majority of starters from a year ago.

“We’re very young,” Valdin said. “Some of our new starters might not have been ready for the speed of the game.”

Gaille said the similarity between the two teams helped the evaluation process.

“It’s two teams in similar circumstances, talented, well-coached on both sides. It gives you a good read.”

St. James was able to move the ball consistently on the ground for most of the day, though Hahnville’s defense stiffened in the second half.

“They put up a lot of yardage,” Valdin said. “It’s tough to stop that offense they’re run all year with only a few days to prepare for the Wing-T, which we haven’t really seen.”

But while he admitted disappointment with a loss, Valdin says Hahnville came away with what it needed from the jamboree.

 “The biggest thing for us was to get our special teams units on the field,” said Valdin. “The scrimmage is a dress rehearsal for your offense and defense. The jamboree is one for your special teams. So it was good for us to get them out there.”

Considering the last points put up on the board, St. James would have no argument with that.