By RYAN ARENA

L’Observateur

PATTERSON — After East St. John’s 35-34 loss to St. Charles in their jamboree matchup last week, the question on everyone’s mind was simply this: Just how would the struggling Wildcats’ defense go about stopping Kenny Hilliard, Patterson’s all-everything rusher and LSU commitment?

But the Wildcats’ defense thrived under that microscope, and Hilliard would end the night as only the second most productive tailback on the field.

ESJ tailback Andrew Taylor rushed 13 times for 148 yards and three scores—all in the first half—as the Wildcats romped to a 34-14 win at Patterson, the No. 7 ranked team in Class 3A.

“It was as complete a victory as you could have,” said ESJ coach Larry Dauterive.

Taylor scored touchdowns from 37 and 57 yards in the first quarter, and added a 19-yard touchdown in the second. Darion Monroe’s 50-yard interception return for a score made it 28-7 at halftime, Patterson’s only points coming on a 87-yard kickoff return for a touchdown by Dexter O’Quinn.

James Stewart cut into the lead with a 6-yard scoring run in the third quarter to make it 28-14, but Monroe connected with receiver D’haquille Williams in the fourth for a 27-yard score to make it 35-14. Williams also hauled in a two-point conversion catch. He’d finish the day with two catches for 38 yards. Monroe completed 4-of-11 passes for 51 yards, a touchdown and an interception.

Hilliard ran 22 times for 124 yards.

Dauterive said his team scrapped its original, zone heavy defensive gameplan after last week’s game and readopted its man coverage, blitzing philosophy.

Clearly, it worked wonders.

“We gave ground to (Hilliard) grudgingly,” said Dauterive. “We changed the whole defense from the top on down.”

ESJ held Patterson to 194 total yards and intercepted three passes.

The Wildcats rushed for 243 yards on the night.