Playing in the rain on a Friday night

George Mahl

In last week’s football preview, I stated that forecasters called for a 70 percent chance of rain Friday night.

I was wrong.

What they meant to say was there was a 170 percent chance of rain Friday night. That was more like it.

Whether it was here in the River Parishes or down on the bayou, field conditions played a role in determining the outcome of each game. Thankfully, the field at Joe Keller Memorial Stadium was not as wet as other places. I had someone tell me that the players at the St. Charles-St. James game looked to be playing in a soup bowl.

No matter where you looked a dry ball was hard to find. Finding a dry ball last Friday night was like finding a Christmas tree the day after Christmas.

It was not going to happen.

Obviously, field position was cherished more than usual. Turnovers occurred more than usual also. I am not sure if it’s superstitious or something, but last week’s East St. John-Destrehan game marked the third consecutive year that the game was played in rainy conditions, with DHS winning two out of three.

I salute any team that could move the ball on those conditions.

There were some games where there was not a lot of scoring and others that saw teams march up and down the field determined to prove a point. Take for example the Thibodaux-Central Lafourche game as well as the West St. John-Buras game. Neither team could move the ball in a 7-2 Tiger victory.

On the other hand, West St. John looked as if they were playing on a dry field in winning 58-0.

It was a night in which you needed to have a good running game or else you would be in trouble. Look West St. John and Riverside. West St. John’s Patrick Jackson scored five touchdowns and Riverside’s Jared Caesar ran for 125 yards. Moreover, each team had easy victories.

On the other hand, East St. John, unquestionably a passing team, only managed to put up six points in a 33-6 loss. It was a night where if you were in the stands, you were a brave and loyal person. Thankfully, the pressbox at Keller Stadium is now covered by glass. I covered the DHS-ESJ game in 2002 where there was no glass and you almost needed a canoe just to get out of the pressbox. Anyway, it is week seven here in the River Parishes and it is time for teams to start building momentum toward the playoffs. It should be another interesting week.

I will be at the E.D White-Lutcher game Friday night. Good luck to all teams.