By RYAN ARENA

L’Observateur

Before a battle of traditional Class 1A powers, it was reasonable to expect a classic game and finish. By all accounts, that’s what West St. John and Haynesville provided.

Only one team could advance to the state semifinals, and it indeed was the Rams who came away with a 15-8 state quarterfinal victory on the road, sealing things late on a Kylum Favorite 30-yard touchdown run with 1:05 left in the game.

West St. John is now set to travel in the state semifinals to face undefeated second seed Vermilion Catholic, which defeated Westminster 41-28.

The Rams had just lost their lead minutes earlier, when Haynesville’s Mikhell Cooper recovered a Rams’ fumble in the endzone for a score. Levert James officially tied the game with 4:54 left on the clock on a 2-point conversion run.

West St. John held an 8-0 lead throughout most of the night, points generated on Jarius Moll’s 61-yard touchdown reception from quarterback Austin Howard. Favorite pounded in the 2-point conversion to make it 8-0.

Moll finished with two catches for 73 yards to lead all receivers.

Favorite rushed 15 times for 116 yards. Howard completed three of 10 passes for 83 yards.