By RYAN ARENA
L’Observateur

DESTREHAN — Archrivals Destrehan and Hahnville each put together thrilling runs in the 2014 football season, with the former reaching the Class 5A state championship game and the latter reestablishing itself as a championship contender.

DHS running back Will Matthews and HHS linebacker Dwaine Thomas were at the heart of both success stories, and each have earned spots on the Louisiana Sports Writers Association’s Class 5A All-State squad.

Destrehan’s Kirk Merritt, Louis Kieffer, Glen Logan, Allen Pittman and Brandon Scott each made honorable mention in Class 5A. Hahnville’s Rickey Preston, Brandon Singleton and Fred Brown earned honorable mention, as well, as did East St. John’s Xavier Lewis.

When Destrehan lost 2013 quarterback Donovan Isom to graduation, the common thought was the Wildcats would struggle to repeat their success of a season earlier, the semifinalists to rely on inexperience under center. But Matthews stepped forward to lead a newly born run-heavy attack, leading Destrehan to a 14-1 record and a state runner-up finish.

Matthews, a senior, rushed for 1,814 yards and 24 touchdowns to lead the Destrehan offense, his second consecutive season of nearly 2,000 yards rushing. This year he did it as part of a tandem with the speedy Merritt, who worked more at tailback this season.

“He’s been our leader on and off the field,” Destrehan coach Stephen Robicheaux said. “We saw our offense flip from one that passed for 3,000 yards and rushed for 1,000 to just the opposite. He and Kirk led that change. When you look at the body of work, he’s scored right around 55 touchdowns and rushed for nearly 4,000 yards over the past two seasons. He’s had a heck of a run for us.”

At 6’2” and 200 pounds, Thomas was an imposing figure that wreaked havoc in the Tigers’ defense. Hahnville lost starting quarterback Mike Neal in the third game of the season but rode its defense to seven consecutive wins before its eventual loss to Destrehan in the state quarterfinals. Over the final five games of that seven-game streak, Thomas and the Tiger D allowed no more than 14 points in any game.

Thomas piled up 131 total tackles (11 for loss) and 12 sacks. He forced five fumbles, recovered three and intercepted a pass.

“I honestly felt like he was the defensive MVP of our district,” HHS coach Nick Saltaformaggio said. “He meant so much to us not just for what he brought on the field, but especially in his leadership in all regards. He helped us bring this program to a point I don’t think anyone expected us to be so soon.

“He’s going to be a heck of a college football player, and, if the good Lord brings some good fortune, he’s a kid who could be making noise on Sunday afternoons.”

Saltaformaggio said Thomas’ toughness stood out in a major way.

“I preach for our kids to be the strongest, fastest and toughest guys in the state, and he’s the epitome of that,” Saltaformaggio said. “He made kids who maybe weren’t as talented as he was into better players.

“And man, when a guy can do that, you’ve really got something special.”