MICHAEL KIRAL / L’Observateur / May 22, 1999

RESERVE – For the second straight year, the East St. John Wildcats cappedspring practice with an impressive performance against Archbishop Shaw.

The two teams scrimmaged Tuesday night at Joe Keller Stadium.

Both teams started the scrimmage working on their special teams before starting series at their own 2-yard lines. The young Wildcat defense heldShaw on its first two series with the first team. The Eagles did the samewhile East St. John’s first team was on the field. The Wildcats worked on their running game during those series with Chuckie Burl getting the blunt of the work. Floyd Smith did complete fiveof his eight passes during that time including passes of 13 and 11 yards to Chris Bush.

The Shaw second team offense scored on its first possession against the East St. John second team defense, driving 98 yards in five plays. TheWildcats came back to stop the next two series by recovering fumbles by the Eagles. East St. John’s second team would be held scoreless by theEagles.

Shaw senior quarterback Shyrone Carey led his first team back onto the field and immediately led them 60 yards in two plays for a touchdown on the first series from the Shaw 40. The Eagles drove to the East St. John 5-yard line before the Wildcats recovered a fumble to end the drive.

Smith quickly led the Wildcats to their first touchdown on their next series from their 40. On the first play, he connected with EmmanuelAlbert on the right sidelines for a 49-yard gain to the 11. Albert wasrecently moved from defense to tight end because of the number of players at that position playing baseball for the Wildcats.

Burl carried three straight times, breaking the goal line on a 4-yard sweep.

Smith was intercepted on the Wildcats’ next possession but then drove them down the field for another score. Smith rushed for 14 yards on thedrive and connected with Bush on the left side at the 2-yard line. Bushtook it in to cap the 10-yard scoring play.

Shaw’s second team reentered the game and was stopped on its first series from the 40 before taking it in on a 50-yard run on its next possession. A third possession was stopped at the Shaw 35-yard line.Brandon August had an 8-yard gain on the Wildcats’ next series with the second team before the drive was halted. An interception ended the secondseries at the Shaw 42.

On possessions starting at the 20, Shaw scored twice, the second a 2-yard sweep by Carey. East St. John was stopped inside the 10 on its twopossessions from the 20.

“It went fine,” Stephens said of the spring. “I thought the kids playedhard. We played a good football team Tuesday night. The kids played gooddefensively. Floyd had a good game offensively. He threw the ball well andran the ball well. Overall, I was real pleased. The kids played hard on bothsides of the ball. We came out to get better and we did.”East St. John is coming off an 9-3 record in Stephens’ first year as theteam’s head coach. The Wildcats advanced to the quarterfinals for thefirst time since 1980 before falling to eventual state champion West Monroe.

East St. John opens the 1999 prep season against St. Charles Catholic inthe River Parishes Jamboree. The Wildcats will start the regular season athome against traditional rival Lutcher in a special Thursday night game.

East St. John travels to Class 3A powerhouse St. James in week twobefore coming home to play Warren Easton in the pre-district finale.

East St. John opens district play against Hahnville and former coach LouValdin on the road before hosting Destrehan. The Wildcats travel toThibodaux before hosting Neville in a non-district game. The Wildcatsreenter district play at home against Central Lafourche before ending the season at South Terrebonne and at home against South Lafourche.

“We’re optimistic,” Stephens said of the season. “We have 26 seniorsreturning and eight starters back on offense. Defensively, we are young.But barring injury, I feel good about next year.”

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