By Keith Lusher Jr.

Special to L’Observateur

The Destrehan Wildcats improved their record to 3-2 with a win over Higgins 41-21 in a Class 5A matchup.

It was Homecoming for the Wildcats and they did not disappoint. Coming into the game Destrehan coach Stephen Robicheaux showed concern over the new look Higgins offense. In week three of their young season Higgins’ coaching staff made the change from a spread offense to Power-I and found great success with it by beating Brother Martin 26-7, but the new look Hurricane offense was kept in check by Destrehan’s defense: Higgins only managed 216 yards.

Destrehan lit up the scoreboard first with a 5-play 63-yard drive capped off by running back Will Matthews’16-yard scamper for a touchdown. After a Cameron Walsh extra point the Wildcats led 7-0. With 4:29 on the clock, Higgins turned a Donovan Isom fumble into points when quarterback Rhydah Wilson kept the ball and scored from 5 yards out. Higgins then lined up for an extra point: Until this point in the season it had only attempted 2-point conversions. Eric Gordon’s kick was blocked by a surging Wildcat line and the score was 7-6.

Destrehan answered, marching down the field  for a  nine play 69-yard drive. Isom hit Ricky Jefferson deep and set up Matthews’ second touchdown of the night. Matthews ended the night with 117 yards on 13 carries. Walsh knocked the PAT through and Destrehan was up 14-6. The Wildcat defense held firm but their offense gave the Hurricane’s an unexpected opportunity to score when Jefferson mishandled a handoff on a reverse. Para Brandon recovered the loose ball and Higgins converted the turnover into points when Wilson found the end zone for a second time, going in untouched on a 26-yard keeper. Gordon converted on his extra point attempt and Higgins cut the lead to 14-13. The Wildcat offense roared back and scored before halftime when Isom hit a slanting Michael Smith in the end zone for the touch down. Smith caught 4 passes for 69 yards. Walsh’s PAT was true and Destrehan lead 21-13 at half time.

In the second half the Wildcat defense really shined. On fourth-and-24 Wilson lined up as the punter but the snap went high and Destrehan denied the first down. This lead to another Wildcat score as Isom faked the handoff to the right and went left for a 25-yard scamper to paydirt. Walsh’s extra point was good, the Wildcats led comfortably and never looked back.

Higgins was forced to step out of their comfort level by throwing and Wilson failed to complete a single pass for the remainder of the night. Hurricane running back Theron Williams did manage to score on a bolt up the middle for 54 yards late in the third quarter. Williams finished with 88 yards on 8 attempts. Wilson took in the 2-point conversion in and Higgins cut it to a two-score-game. Destrehan slammed the door shut on Higgins with 6:32 left in the game. Talvin Michaels tallied from 9 yards out which proved to be the final score of the game. Destrehan totaled 429 yards of total offense. 92 or them coming through the air and 337 on the ground.

Destrehan looks to continue its winning ways when it hosts a winless Ehret team next week. Higgins hosts Bonnabel.