By RYAN ARENA

L’Observateur

THIBODAUX – For the second straight season, the Bayou Region upended the River Region in the Thibodaux Lions Club Bayou-River football All-Star game, taking a 30-21 victory at Nicholls State.

Thibodaux running back John Johnson led the Bayou Region to the victory, rushing for 108 yards on 18 attempts with a touchdown. Johnson accounted for 52 of his team’s 58 yards on its go-ahead touchdown drive in the fourth quarter. E.D. White’s Bryce Ledet scored the go-ahead touchdown from 2-yards out with 2:54 to play, putting the Bayou ahead 24-21.

Johnson was named MVP of the Bayou team.

West St. John quarterback Mark Wright accounted for three touchdowns and was named MVP of the River Region.

The Bayou region now leads the series, 3-2.

The River Region took a fourth quarter lead, 21-17, when West St. John quarterback Mark Wright scored on a 7-yard touchdown run.

Johnson put the Bayou ahead 7-0 in the second quarter on a 31-yard scoring dash. Vandebilt’s Michael Blanchard helped the Bayou take advantage of a River Region turnover late in the first half, drilling a 30-yard field goal to make it a 10-0 halftime advantage.

That lead held until the waning moments of the third quarter, when Wright connected with D’haquille Williams for a 15-yard touchdown to pull the River within 10-7.

That ignited a furious finish.

The Bayou pushed the lead back to 10 on the ensuing kickoff as Jamal Jupiter of Assumption raced 96 yards for a touchdown to make it 17-7.

Wright connected with St. Charles’ Harley Scioneaux from 13-yards away to cap the River’s next drive, making it 17-14.

Then Alonzo Lewis of St. James would intercept a Bayou pass to set up Wright’s go-ahead rushing score – before Johnson went to work.

Williams hauled in seven receptions for 141 yards.

Lewis intercepted two passes.

East St John’s Andrew Taylor led the River in rushing with 90 yards on 12 carries.

West St. John’s Michael Dede had eight tackles to lead his team.