By RYAN ARENA

Sports Editor

All eyes are on the Rams locally, as West St. John (7-5) advanced to the quarterfinals with its seventh straight win on Friday, its sixth by double digits. Hamilton Christian was eliminated in the game, 30-14, and suffered the same fate last season to the Rams in the bi-district round.

West St. John fell by two points last year to eventual 1A runner-up St. John’s after earning that win, and Rams Coach Laury Dupont surely hopes his team can follow it up with a win this time.

Kentwood’s (9-3) track record this season looks remarkably similar to West St. John’s – nine wins by double digits, and three losses, all to 10 win teams in St. James, Amite, and St. John. Kentwood, like West St. John, is undefeated in Class 1A play.

Kentwood’s offense is explosive, featuring a big play passing attack buoyed by quarterback Bobby Earl. Passing from the Kangaroos single back, shotgun attack, the 5’10 junior found receivers for touchdowns of 68, 65 and 77 yards, going 5-for-six for 228 yards as Kentwood rolled over Haynesville on Friday. Kentwood has scored over 30 points on seven occasions this season.

The Kangeroos come off of a 2006 season in which it made the state semifinals, and a win over the hosting Rams would propel them there yet again.

West St. John will likely attempt to keep Earl on the sidelines by establishing the run, as it has consistently over the last seven games using a multitude of runners. Kenneth Dabney, Romell Howard and Tyler Lewis have all had big games during the streak, and have allowed the West St. john defense to wait on the sidelines and rest – it has not allowed 20 points in any of the team’s seven wins.