By RYAN ARENA
L’Observateur

EDGARD — West St. John didn’t run away with things this time against the Bogalusa Lumberjacks, but the Rams dialed up a winning play when it counted to score a 19-12 victory at home.

Jemoine Green connected with Morell Bartholomew for a 40-yard touchdown with 2:03 left to play, going for the winning points for West St. John.

“We’d been having success with a simple hitch route on the previous drive that led to us tying it up,” West St. John coach Robert Valdez said. “So after we forced a punt, we figured they’re biting on the hitches and the quick out. We had Morell run a hitch-and-go and Jemoine threw a beautiful pass for a really big touchdown.”

Bradley Borne scored the game-tying touchdown earlier in the fourth quarter after Bogalusa took a 12-6 lead. The Lumberjacks scored their first touchdown on an interception return for a touchdown.

West St. John opened its scoring on an 85-yard Lamore Boudoin kickoff return for a score.

“(Bogalusa) is very athletic, very physical and they came out blitzing,” Valdez said. “We ran it well on the first two series, then we were unable to maintain it. Credit to them, they did a good job generating pressure.”

Valdez said on a night where the offense wasn’t clicking, the Rams’ defense and special teams answered the bell.

“The defense really has to be special on a night like tonight,” Valdez said. “The kickoff return was a big lift and our defense played lights out the whole night.”

West St. John forced four Bogalusa turnovers, including two interceptions by Tre’Von Borne and another by Jamal Walters — making it three in two weeks for Walters.