St. Augustine’s Marice Sutton secured a crucial interception in the final two minutes to end East St. John’s last drive and vault the Purple Knights into the regional round of the Class 5A playoffs, taking a 32-30 victory at Joe Keller Memorial Stadium.

There were five lead changes in the final 16 minutes of play, the last coming on a 4-yard keeper run by Purple Knights quarterback Terry Lucas with 2:06 left in the game to make it 32-28.

But almost immediately, East St. John threatened to send St. Augustine home unhappy.

On the first play of the Wildcats’ ensuing drive, Kalen Henderson let loose a bomb that found D’haquille Williams in stride downfield for a 58-yard gain. It set up ESJ on a first-and-goal from the SA 6.

But after a short loss on first down, a bad snap went over Henderson’s head and was recovered at the 19.

On third down, Henderson’s pass in the endzone intended for Williams was intercepted by Sutton. ESJ forced a fourth down with 13 seconds left, but SA snapped the ball and stalled by running backwards into the endzone, taking an intentional safety with no time remaining.

Williams finished with two touchdowns and 157 yards on five catches. Henderson completed 9-of-28 passes for 185 yards and two scores. Reynaldo Young ran 16 times for 173 yards and a score.

Young put ESJ ahead 21-20 with 15 seconds left in the third quarter after ripping off an 86-yard run.

St. Augustine pushed back with 7:04 left in the game on Lucas’ 20-yard scoring strike to Marc Edwards.

ESJ jumped back ahead on a fourth down play, a 20-yard pass from Henderson to Williams that made it 28-26.

For more info, see Wednesday’s edition of L’Observateur.