By RYAN ARENA
L’Observateur

EDGARD — Running backs Lamore Boudoin and Bradley Borne took turns ripping through the Ellender defense — and then wide receiver Morell Bartholomew began licking his chops.

The two Ram rushers combined to help West St. John generate 294 yards and three touchdowns on the ground, and Bartholomew scored twice through the air as the host Rams rolled through the Patriots, 47-8.

Boudoin rushed for 181 yards and two touchdowns on 12 carries, including a 71-yarder to set the tone of the game in the first quarter. Borne, who played linebacker in addition to running back, added 112 yards and a score on 17 carries.

West St. John (3-2) had lost two straight games, to Riverside and Holy Cross respectively, prior to Friday’s win.

“We wanted to come out and start strong, finish strong and make this one count,” Boudoin said. “We wanted everyone to know we’re better than the last two weeks showed.”

West St. John put things away early, scoring 27 unanswered points in the first half.

Boudoin and Borne each put touchdowns on the board early, Boudoin on his 71-yard run and Borne from 5 yards out.

The Patriots faked a punt in the second quarter but the Rams stopped them at the Ellender 32. West St. John took advantage of the short field, Jemoine Green dialing up a deep throw to Bartholomew on the drive’s second play for a 32-yard touchdown.

Ellender couldn’t answer. West St. John recovered a Patriots fumble on the next drive, Quantae Gaudia coming up with the loose ball at the Ellender 27. Boudoin wasted no time, again registering a score on the Rams’ second play, making it 27-0.

The Patriots threatened to score before half, marching to the WSJ 21, but the Rams held.

A 41-yard run by Boudoin and a 22-yarder by Borne set up WSJ’s first second-half score, a 6-yard Green sweep to make it 34-0.

Borne added a 9-yard touchdown run and Juwan Boudoin connected with Bartholomew on an 11-yarder to round out the WSJ scoring.

Jamal Walters and Kie’Ave Harry each registered interceptions for the Rams, who held Ellender (1-4) to its second lowest scoring output of the season.

Borne, an extremely physical runner when playing tailback, said he enjoyed playing on the defensive side of the ball.

“Oh yeah, I like that,” Borne said with a smile. “Everyone’s out to hit me every week, and now I get to deliver the hits.”

Bartholomew has scored eight touchdowns this season and has scored in all but one game, last week’s 28-8 loss to Holy Cross.

Once the running game started clicking, he knew his time was coming.

“I told Jemoine I had to get at least two (touchdowns) after last week,” Bartholomew said. “One extra to make up for it.”

Bartholomew caught two passes on the night, both for scores.

“His percentage is pretty good,” West St. John coach Robert Valdez quipped.

With District 8-1A play beginning next week, Valdez said he was pleased with how the Rams closed out non-district play.

“We’ve been playing some really stiff competition,” Valdez said. “These young kids on our team have had a baptism by fire. A game like tonight, after two losses in a row, we approached it with a sense of urgency. I really liked our ability to run the ball tonight. That opened things up on the outside.”