By RYAN ARENABy RYAN ARENA

D’haquille Williams laid face down in the end zone in anguish.

His East St. John Wildcats had only minutes earlier been at the doorstep of victory over No. 4 Dutchtown. With it would come at least a share of the District 6-5A championship and a continued march toward an undefeated season.

But, improbably, the Griffins were dancing in celebration, 41-34 winners of a classic double overtime game at Joe Keller Memorial Stadium.

“Can’t fault the effort. Our kids wanted it badly,” said ESJ coach Ronald Barrilleaux, coaching his second game since taking over for Larry Dauterive a week ago. “We missed opportunities to end it. But it was a great game tonight.”

With 1:20 left in regulation, East St. John’s Darion Monroe intercepted Dutchtown quarterback Leon Blouin on fourth and 15 and returned the heist for a score, extending a two-point Wildcats lead to eight. Dutch town (9-0, 4-0) had no time outs remaining.

But the Griffins blocked the extra point, giving themselves hope-hope that was realized in spectacular fashion when on the first play of the ensuing Dutchtown possession, Blouin hit running back Effrim Reed on a quick hitter and watched him race 60 yards for a touchdown to make it 34-32. Reed converted a tying two-point play, and Dutchtown would end ESJ’s final possession in regulation with an interception in the end zone with no time left.

“We were just looking for a spark, something, anything,” said Dutchtown coach Benny Saia. “(Reed) got the ball, eight or 9 guys had a shot at him, but he brought it to the house. That’s a kid that’s as good as anyone in the state. If he doesn’t get signed, people are crazy.”

In the first overtime, Monroe hooked up with D’haquille Williams on a third-and-5 fade route in which Williams out leapt his defender to come down with the score, putting ESJ (8-1, 3-1) ahead 41-34.

Dutchtown fired back though. First, Blouin’s hard count cut their 10-yard goal in half, drawing an ESJ defender offsides. The Wildcats stopped Reed short of the goalline three times, but on fourth and one Reed leapt over the top for the score to tie the game.

In the second overtime, it took Reed only two cracks to score a 7-yard touchdown, putting the pressure back on ESJ. Dutchtown came up with the night’s biggest defensive play on a second down sack of Monroe, then forced Monroe to scramble for a gain of five.

On fourth and nine, Monroe went to Williams one final time, but his pass came just out of the reach of his leaping target.

“I don’t know if I’ve been around a group with a bigger heart,” said Saia.

East St. John led 21-13 at halftime. Monroe threw three touchdown passes in the first half — two to Williams, another to Dez Broussard. Dutchtown kicked a pair of field goals and converted a lone touchdown on a 4-yard Reed touchdown. 10 Dutchtown points came off of good field position, thanks to a fumbled kickoff by ESJ and a return to midfield.

Dutchtown drew within one early in the second half when Reed crashed through the ESJ defense for a 3-yard score to cap a seven play drive, making it 21-20.

ESJ pushed its lead to eight after a key defensive stop by the Wildcats, halting Blouin on a fourth-and-six run in the early fourth quarter. Monroe ran 31 yards on the first play on the ensuing drive to the Dutchtown 11, setting up an 11-yard DeChris Strong sweep for a score.

Dutchtown answered on Reed’s third touchdown f the night, an eight yard score, but the Griffins could not convert a two-point try after a false start pushed them back to the 5.

Dutchtown’s last gasp appeared to come with less than two minutes left. On a third and 7 play from its down 12, Dutchtown was backed up further when the snap flew past Blouin, who recovered it and just avoided a safety. On fourth down he’d be intercepted by Monroe.

Reed finished with six total touchdowns. Williams finished with three, and Monroe accounted for five.