By GEORGE MAHL – Sports Editor

The River Parishes will be well represented at this year’s Louisiana High School Coaches Association Football All-Star Game, to be played this weekend at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge.

The East team will be coached by Lutcher Head Coach Tim Detillier and the East coordinator will be East St. John head coach Larry Dauterive.

The West team will be coached by West St. John head coach Laury Dupont. One of Dupont’s assistants will be none other than Hahnville head coach Lou Valdin.

In addition, Dupont, Detillier and Valdin were named L’Observateur Coach of the Year.

East St. John will have two players representing them in this year’s game. Running back Derron Thomas and offensive lineman Wesley Housley will be playing for the East.

Thomas’s stats were outstanding in 2003. He had 169 carries for 1704 yards and 27 touchdowns. In addition, he had 2,392 yards of total offense.

Thomas was also responsible for the best first half by a running back all year. He rushed for an amazing 300 yards in the first half against Hahnville.

This past February, Thomas signed a scholarship with Miami (Fla).

Housley, on the other hand, was selected first team All-District and was a member of the All-State team. He signed a scholarship with Southern Mississippi.