By RYAN ARENA

L’Observateur

RESERVE — In a span of a week, East St. John has dealt with a controversy, a coaching change, an emotional rivalry win over Destrehan and a gut-wrenching double overtime loss to Dutchtown. One would think a break might be welcome for all the East St. John players, coaches and fans.

No such luck. Hahnville’s coming to town.

Crazy things always seem to happen when the Wildcats (8-1, 3-1) meet the Tigers (6-2, 3-1). There was a six overtime win for East St. John in 2007 — the next year, it took another overtime to decide things in another Wildcats win. In 2005, the Katrina season saw the teams meet three times, with Hahnville winning the first matchup on a Hail Mary completion with no time left, and the last seeing the tigers advance to the Class 5A semifinal when ESJ’s own Hail Mary attempt fell incomplete in the same scenario.

The two archrivals rarely seem to play a game that doesn’t live up to the hype.

“We’ve seen game’s decided in overtime, games decided on special teams,” said Hahnville coach Lou Valdin. “It’s always been a player where great players have played great. I don’t anticipate anything different this time.”

The Tigers coach looks at East St. John and sees a team boasting an offense that no one has found an answer for. The Wildcats average nearly 43 points per game. East St. John has scored 41 or more points in each of its four district contests, and on the season hasn’t scored less than 29 points. Even in that game, a win over Rummel, ESJ had four touchdowns called back by penalty.

“Their offense is as good as there is in the state,” said Valdin. “Their skill people are just tremendous. Their offensive line is great … and it all starts with the quarterback (Darion Monroe). He’s got great receivers, yeah, but he can hurt you with his legs too. He can scramble and buy time and his offensive line is very good. When you have a guy like that, who has time to find those receivers, it’s a bad combination for any defense.”

East St. John coach Ronald Barrilleaux has barely had time to catch his breath after stepping into the head coaching slot for Larry Dauterive not two weeks ago and has already overseen two opposing sides of the spectrum for his team in a blowout win and a devastating overtime loss.

East St. John seemed to have a win and a share of the District 6-5A title wrapped up on Friday when Darion Monroe intercepted Leon Blouin’s fourth down pass and returned it for a touchdown with 1:20 left in regulation. It put ESJ up eight, but the game stayed within reach when Dutchtown blocked ESJ’s extra point attempt. A play later, Blouin made amends, connecting with Effrim Reed for a 60-yard touchdown before Reed’s two-point conversion run tied the game.

Each team scored in the first overtime. But Reed’s sixth touchdown of the night, a 7-yard run, provided the winning points after the Griffins made a stand in the second overtime thanks largely to a sack of Monroe.

Barrilleaux said that it was a tough loss to swallow but that his players are already focused on the new task at hand.

“The best thing is, its another big game,” said Barrilleaux. “You put the last one behind you, because there’s another monster ahead. I can see that our kids are focused and ready to go. We had a very good practice (Monday).”

Barrilleaux said that Hahnville presents a challenge of its own for the ESJ defense in its balance. Quarterback Brian Ensminger and running back Ahmad White are one of the top backfield combinations in the state and have kept teams off balance all season.

“You have to prepare for both,” said Barrilleaux. “They’re good in either phase, and that puts tremendous pressure on your defense.”

Hahnville bounced back last week from its own loss to Dutchtown (13-10 in Geismar) to collect a 38-13 victory over St. Amant at home. HHS rode White to victory. He rushed for 282 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

But regardless of who is coming off a win or a loss, Valdin said it doesn’t matter.

This is a game that stands on its own.

“They played for a district title last week. But now, its just Hahnville,” said Valdin. “It’s always something special when we show up to Joe Keller Stadium. They’ll have no problems getting fired up for us. And we’ll have no problem getting fired up for them.”