By RYAN ARENA

Sports Editor

Make it 16 in a row for Destrehan.

The defending Class 5A state champions weren’t able to open their season a week ago as scheduled due to Hurricane Gustav, and Hurricane Ike eliminated any chance of playing at St. James on Friday night as planned.

But the battle of the Wildcats would indeed take place on Sunday. And Destrehan flexed its championship muscle in front of its home fans, powering its way to a 35-7 win over St. James.

The game was moved to Destrehan due to damaged lights over St. James’ home field.

Destrehan outgained St. James in total yardage, 322 to 115.

“Destrehan did a pretty thorough job of beating us,” said St. James Coach Rick Gaille. “They’ve got a balanced offense and great size and speed defensively.”

It seemed as though the championship momentum from 2007 carried immediately over to Sunday’s opener, as Antonio Parker took the opening kickoff 87-yards for a touchdown to give Destrehan a 7-0 lead.

“We were fighting uphill the whole time,” Gaille said.

Myron Smith’s 2-yard score on Destrehan’s next possession gave DHS a 14-0 lead before the midpoint of the game’s first quarter.

STH would briefly answer the bell. Rojae Dumas recovered a muffed punt in Destrehan territory, and soon after Marcus Dumas would find Shane Grows for a 13-yard touchdown with less than two minutes left in the first quarter.

But Destrehan’s defense would allow no more points. Henry Lenox’s 9-yard touchdown run capped Destrehan’s next drive, giving DHS a 21-7 lead.

“We couldn’t keep the pressure on them,” said Gaille. “They were able to free wheel offensively and keep us on our heels.”

Kyron King and Delzek Donald each added scores through the air for Destrehan to close out the game.

Wynrick Smothers successfully debuted as Destrehan’s new quarterback, going 12-for-18 with two touchdowns as he steps in for the departed Jordan Jefferson.

Lenox led Destrehan with 79 yards and a touchdown on the ground.

Gaille said that his team’s inexperience helped do them in on Sunday – especially coming against the team across the field on Sunday.

 “Our guys are still having to think about what to do,” said Gaille. “It slows you down. And when you play slower against a team like Destrehan, it becomes a huge disadvantage that’s magnified.”