By GEORGE MAHL

Reserve – Friday the 13th proved to be unlucky for the St. James High School Wildcats.

Derron Thomas’ 223 yards rushing was the difference in a 27-20 victory for East St. John High School Friday night.

“We really did not run the ball enough in the first half. Then we just exploded after that,” Thomas said.

With about three minutes remaining in the game, ESJ quarterback Ryan Perrilloux handed off to Thomas from the five. Thomas gained no yards on the play. ESJ did the exact same play again and came up short. However, the third time would be the charm as Thomas ran over the right side to give the Wildcats the lead.

“When we could run the football they couldn’t stop us,” Thomas said.

Early on, both teams looked sluggish until David Johnson took off and scored on a 35-yard touchdown run to give St. James a 7-0 lead. During the first quarter, St. James shut down any offensive attack that ESJ could muster. The Reserve-based school punted on their first three possesions and starting quarterback Perrilloux was sacked three times, including twice by defensive end Jarrel Price.

East St. John, during the first quarter, was constantly facing third-and-long situations. The closest ESJ got was on the St. James 27 yard line. However, a first and ten quickly became third and 26 for the Wildcats. Thanks to back-to-back sacks by St. James, ESJ was forced to punt on fourth and long from their own 42.

Even at the start of the second quarter, East St. John had to punt the ball on its first possession. Things did not get rolling for the home team until about five minutes left in the first half. That is when the Wildcats went on an eight-play, 55-yard drive that was capped off by a six yard touchdown run from Damon Pittman. The key play on the drive was a 14-yard run by Pittman to give the Wildcats a first and goal.

After a St. James punt, Perrilloux gave the ball right back to the Wildcats when he threw the ball right into the arms of defensive back Donanvan Williams. However, St. James could not do anything after that and ended up with a 7-7 tie going into the lockerroom. Quarterback Blake Falgoust finished the half 1-8 for one yard.

Things picked up quickly in the second half for both schools. On the second play from scrimmage, Thomas bolted down the left side of the field for a 71-yard touchdown run. What was interesting was that ESJ head coach Larry Dauterive was upset with Thomas on the previous play.

“Our coaches were pretty upset with us at the break. We new we had to turn it up a notch in the second half,” added Thomas.

Three Plays later, St. James got the big play they were looking for. A 49 yard pass from Falgoust to Price made the score 14-13 ESJ. The extra point was missed. Thomas continued his outstanding performance with another touchdown from nine yards out to make the score 20-13 in favor of ESJ. After an East St. John punt, Flagoust threw a perfect pass to David Johnson to tie the game at 20.

“I thought Blake (Flagoust) held up well tonight. He was under a great deal of pressure during a lot of the game,” said St. James head coach Rick Gaille. “You have to give them (ESJ) credit. They played at a higher level and made the plays when they were supposed to.”

St. James center Emmanuel Sterling said his team has nothing to be ashamed of.

“I think this will give us some respect. Some respect from the other schools that still have not played us,” Sterling said.

St. James will travel to play Riverside next week. While ESJ will travel to Baton Rouge to play Capitol.