By RYAN ARENA

L’Observateur

 MARRERO — When Hahnville began the season 0-4, one might have called them a playoff longshot.

Now, you can call them district champions.

The Tigers clinched at least a share of the District 8-5A crown — and the automatic playoff spot that goes with it — with a absolutely dominating 49-6 rout of John Ehret.

“I think we knew we were a good football team all the while,” said Hahnville coach Lou Valdin. “I had the feeling that if we ever got to the point where we were playing Tiger football, we could be a pretty good team.

“This says a lot about these kids, and also our assistant coaches who helped keep this team together.

Hahnville (4-4, 4-0) was never challenged, running out to a 42-0 halftime advantage.

Hahnville forced five turnovers, including a pair of recoveries against Ehret’s punt team.

Sergio Medina rushed 12 times for 109 yards and two scores to lead Hahnville’s rushing attack. The Tigers are 4-0 in Medina’s starts at tailback, since he moved over to the offense from his initial linebacker role.

Easton Melancon was a perfect 4-of-4 for 62 yards and two touchdowns. Ricky Preston and Kailon Carter each hauled in a score.

Ehret (0-8, 0-4) star rusher Darrel Williams was forced from the game with an injury in the first half.

Hahnville saw some good fortune early as a potential Medina touchdown run was denied when Medina fumbled before crossing the goalline; but Preston recovered in the endzone to give HHS a 7-0 lead.

Medina made sure he got into the endzone a short time later, ripping off a 52-yard scoring run to push the lead to 14.

Gabe Taylor forced an Ehret fumble to set up a Melancon-to-Preston 7-yard strike. That made it 21-0.

Early in the second quarter, an errant snap on Ehret’s punt team gave Hahnville the ball on the Patriot 25. Medina scored from five yards away to make it 28-0.

Jyrus Evans and Lynn Simmons each scored touchdowns for Hahnville.

Valdin said that although the Tigers are district champions, they won’t rest on their laurels.

Certainly not with archrival Destrehan looming next week.

“We want to win because number one, we want to win district outright. We don’t want to share. Number two, we want to improve our position in the seeding. And number three, it’s Destrehan.”

Valdin said that his Tigers have continually grown in each game.

“We’ve learned something in each game,” he said. “Bonnabel taught us how to win. East St. John taught us how to beat someone. Higgins taught us how to dominate someone. Now we have to learn to play like a champion. I thought we did a good job of it tonight.”