Perrilloux scores four touchdowns rushing in 47-12 victory over Tigers

By WADE MCINTYRE

Sports Writer

LAPLACE — East St. John’s Wildcats racked up 47 first half points and coasted to a 47-12 homecoming win over the Donaldsonville Tigers Friday night. The win brings the Wildcat record to 7-2 overall, and 6-2 in district play.

Donaldsonville’s Tigers drop to 2-7 overall on the year.

Ryan Perrilloux scored four rushing touchdowns and passed for three more. Perrilloux was 16 of 18 passing for 283 yards, and picked up 75 rushing yards on eight carries. He did not play in the second half, when the Wildcats went to Ricky Dixon and Gary Durio at quarterback.

Dixon had six passes for 102 yards.

The Wildcats scored their first touchdown with 10:37 left in the first quarter following a 71-yard drive after the opening kickoff. When the Wildcats hit the red zone, Perrilloux ran for ten yards, then scored the 10-yard TD on a keeper.

With 8:41 left in the quarter Perrilloux scored another 10-yard touchdown following a 60-plus yard drive that took three plays for the score.

After a Tiger punt to the Wildcat 47-yard line, Perrilloux hit Rick Dixon with a pass at the Tiger 39-yard line. The Wildcats drove to the one yard and Perrilloux scored on a one-yard keeper with 3:04 left in the quarter. The PAT was no good, the Wildcats led 20-0.

Donaldsonville freshman running back Champlain Babin startled the crowd with an electrifying 84-yard kickoff return with 2:51 left in the quarter, making the score 20-6 following a failed 2-point PAT attempt.

The Wildcats came roaring back, scoring with 58 seconds left in the quarter for a 27-6 lead. The drive covered over 60 yards, culminating in a 4-yard Perrilloux keeper around the left side.

Following a Tiger punt with 7:13 left in the half, Perrilloux found Joshuelle Tuesno in the end zone for a 6-yard touchdown and 34-6 lead. Ricky Dixon scored with 1:37 left in the half on a reception from Perrilloux for a 41-6 lead.

On its next series Donaldsonville went for a first down on fourth down and turned the ball over at the Wildcat 49-yard line. The Wildcats quickly drove to the 6-yard line where Perrilloux found Louis Lee with a 6-yard TD pass making the score 47-6 with six seconds on the half-time clock.

Donaldsonville received the second half kickoff and made a determined effort to score highlighted by a 35-yard run from Babin. The drive, however, stalled in the red zone with 5:15 left in the quarter.

Dixon scored for the Wildcats on a 90-yard run, but it was called back for an offensive holding penalty. East St. John had two touchdowns called back in the game while picking up 105 penalty yards.

Later in the game, the Tigers took over on downs at their own 33-yard line and began a long, determined drive for paydirt. The outmatched team scored on a 29-yard pass from Dean Werner to Reshide Knockum with 6:25 left in the game.

The Wildcats finished with 271 total yards rushing and 288 total yards passing for 559 yards total offense. The team picked up 19 first downs, but suffered from 13 penalties for 105 yards.

Donaldsonville’s Tigers, a young team with numerous freshman starters, and only two seniors on the squad, won no games last year.

Coach Gary Adkins said, “We’re not a very good team, we’re a young team. This is not our year. And it may not come next year. But, it will come.”

Adkins is in his first year as head coach at Donaldsonville.