By RYAN ARENA

L’Observateur

It took seemingly all night long for Hahnville or Barbe to establish a clear advantage over the other – until 3:18 left in its regional round playoff matchup, to be exact.

The Tigers finally established control when Dyrenell Robinson intercepted a pass by Barbe’s Jared Foster and returned it for a 40-yard score to put his team ahead 37-28. Brody Bourg’s interception with 25 seconds left would officially seal things, and Hahnville (11-1) was tagged for a quarterfinal date with second-seeded Rummel.

“It was a case of two really good teams playing their hearts out,” said Hahnville coach Lou Valdin.

Hahnville quarterback Brian Ensminger completed 10-of-19 passes for 182 yards and two second half touchdowns.

Valdin said Ensminger’s contributions went beyond the box score.

“Brian Ensminger was the man,” said Valdin. “He threw it like a champ. He’s got great vision of what he’s got out there…he recognizes numbers. He knows when we have the advantage in the box or in the secondary. He’s checking off, calling audibles…he played a great game.”

Valdin said it was especially important that Ensminger play well, since HHS had difficulty running the football, especially in the first half.

But he also credits star tailback Alfred Blue, who gained 86 yards on 21 carries.

“When you have Blue back there, just his presence opens everything up. He’s a great running threat, but he can also be a great decoy,” said Valdin. “And when Brian sees those one-on-one matchups outside, he’s got the green light to go after them.”

Hahnville took a 17-14 lead into the half, but Barbe would quickly answer.

It took a 21-17 lead when tailback Kevin Berard found quarterback Jared Foster on a “throwback” play for a 5-yard score.

The Tigers regained the lead later in the third quarter on Ensminger’s 26-yard touchdown pass to Derek Howard.

Barbe leapt back on top in the fourth on Foster’s touchdown pass to Michael Guillory, making it 28-24.

But Ensminger and Howard hooked up again for a 21-yard score, putting Hahnville ahead for good.

Guillory answered a field goal by Hahnville’s Mike Aucoin with a 72-yard run that gave Barbe a 7-3 first quarter lead.

“They came out in the Wildcat, no tight end, and popped one on us,” said Valdin. “It was a good play call by Barbe.”

Ensminger put Hahnville back on top, 10-7, on a 1-yard first quarter score.

Blue made it a 17-7 game on a 4-yard run, but Berard cut the lead to three on his own 3-yard scoring plunge.

The Bucs (9-3) gained 445 total yards to Hahnville’s 343.

But the Tigers forced three key Barbe turnovers.

Valdin opted to slow Barbe by calling more zone coverages than he had throughout the season.

“It confused them a little bit,” Valdin said.