By RYAN ARENA

Sports Editor

Destrehan took an undefeated record through the District 6-5A battlefield, and survived with it intact. It blew through the first four rounds of the playoffs with ease, and now, with its ticket to the Superdome punched, only one task awaits.

Beat the champs.

Defending 5A champion Acadiana (11-3) will face Destrehan (14-0) at 7 p.m. on Saturday night to determine the Class 5A champion.

And Destrehan Coach Stephen Robicheaux knows that while he may have an abundance of team speed at his disposal, Acadiana) has one thing that his team won’t have going for it on Saturday night.

“My biggest concern is that they’ve got the experience,” said Robicheaux. “They’ve been there, they played in it last year.”

Holding a 14-0 record, the Wildcats haven’t been slowing down as the season winds down, but instead getting better. Destrehan has blown out each of its four playoff opponents after edging out four district opponents for wins.

Robicheaux has credited his team’s tough district competition with preparing it for the postseason. The results are hard to argue – Destrehan is coming off of a 59-7 semifinal win over Westgate where it accumulated 574 yards of total offense.

The receivers may as well be named Fast, Faster, and Fastest. Running back Jerico Nelson scored a career high four touchdowns on Friday, and leads a powerful running attack. Jordan Jefferson has made excellent use of a wide array of targets.

But Acadiana may provide the toughest test for a Wildcats defense that has limited its opponents all season long. The defending champions started the season 7-0, but backed into the postseason by losing its last three, falling to a No. 14 seed.

But the team rebounded, and most recently held off a late John Ehret rally in the semifinals to advance.

Robicheaux says that his team must prepare diligently for Acadiana’s veer offense.

“They’re a real good offensive team,” said Robicheaux. “They run that veer, and it keeps the ball away from you. It’s a concern.”

Running backs John Dean and Dvan Alexander combined for 354 yards and five touchdowns in the team’s 37-18 win over Ehret.

If Destrehan can slow down that running attack, it likely won’t take long of Jefferson and the offense to establish a lead. And if that happens, then the dream undefeated season will become a reality for the Destrehan Wildcats.