By RYAN ARENA
L’Observateur

For the third time in four years, West St. John traveled to Haynesville with its season hanging in the balance. And while the Rams gave the Class 1A defending champions all they could handle, in the end Friday night, the Golden Tornados found themselves with a one-way ticket to the Superdome.

Haynesville rallied from a 7-0 halftime deficit to capture a 26-13 Class 1A semifinal victory, putting together an 18-point fourth quarter to seal the deal.

Lamore Boudoin’s 1-yard rushing touchdown stood as the first half’s lone score.

Keandre Harris pulled Haynesville within one in the third quarter on his 20-yard rushing score. The Tornados went for two, and Damarcian McCutchen pushed his team ahead 8-7 with a rushing conversion.

And McCutchen wasn’t done. Haynesville extended its lead when he found daylight en route to an 80-yard rushing touchdown, making it 14-7.

The Rams pulled within one on Jemoine Green’s 50-yard touchdown pass to Morell Bartholomew; the extra point sailed wide after a penalty.

But two explosive plays sealed the win for Haynesville: the first, a 42-yard touchdown run by Harris and the second a 52-yarder by James Jackson.

Haynesville is set to face Mangham in the Class 1A championship game.

West St. John ends its season with a record of 10-4. The Rams had won nine consecutive games entering Friday night.