NEW ORLEANS — It was one of the most unusual post-game celebrations ever seen in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.

Usually, one team is jubilant and one is distraught following a state championship game, as one takes home a championship trophy and the other rather begrudgingly accepts the runner-up hardware.

The Lutcher Bulldogs were thrilled to accept the golden trophy following their 41-14 victory over St. James in the Class 3A state championship game on Saturday. But the Bulldogs postponed their celebration and the passing out of their traditional gold paper crowns for a little while as, one by one, every player and coach wearing purple made his way to the Wildcats’ bench.  Lutcher coach Tim Detillier led the way.

St. James quarterback Lowell Narcisse was there, leaning on a pair crutches  — again — and about to be carted off the field after reinjuring his knee. The junior play-maker, who had missed the entire regular season with a torn ACL, had just earned the Outstanding Player of the Game award for his team, but could not go out to midfield to accept it. It was about the only thing that silenced the Superdome on Saturday.

St. James had gotten its side of the arena fired up early, taking the opening kickoff and driving 66 yards on eight plays with Narcisse gaining all but 2 of those yards. He completed his first five passes, including a 9-yard touchdown to Arron McKenney with 8:40 remaining in the first quarter. He then threw a short pass to Williams for the 2-point conversion, giving the Wildcats an 8-0 lead.

The Lutcher folks were impressed. The first time the teams played in the regular season, the Bulldogs took advantage of St. James mistakes to jump to a 16-0 lead and never let the Wildcats score.

“The first drive, Coach Jenkins did a good job of showing something he really hadn’t used a whole lot,” said Lutcher defensive coordinator Craig Zeringue. “It had a lot to do with his quarterback. He could do a lot more things, spread the field. He caught us in an adjustment with an open spot they could take advantage of.”

Then he added: “There was no panic from the kids on the sideline. Maybe from some of the coaches, but not the kids.”

Cory Bourgeois, who replaced Jenkins as Lutcher’s offensive coordinator when he skipped across the river, said it was crucial for the Bulldogs to answer. They did, coming back with an 11-play, 68-yard drive directed by Bulldogs junior quarterback Jontre Kirklin.  It was Kirklin who ran in from the 6-yard line for the Lutcher touchdown. He then threw to Al’Dontre Davis for the 2-point conversion to tie the game with 5:37 remaining in the first quarter.

The momentum swung and St. James never recovered. Kirklin spent the rest of the afternoon throwing three touchdown passes and running for another. He finished 14 of 26 for 150 yards and three touchdowns passing and rushed for 126 yards and two touchdowns to earn Lutcher’s Outstanding Player of the Game Award.

Narcisse spent a lot of the afternoon trying to run away from Lutcher’s Sully Laiche. Narcisse was 15 of 26 for 148 yards and one touchdown with two interceptions. He was held to 36 yards rushing. He was injured on a 4-yard run late in the fourth quarter. DeMarcus Williams, who had filled in for Narcisse all season, completed the drive, throwing a 7-yard touchdown pass to McKenney with 2:55 remaining in the game.

Laiche finished with nine tackles, two sacks, four tackles for loss and a forced fumble. Evan Bland recovered one fumble. Ben St. Pierre nabbed an interception and Devin Recotta returned another for an 11-yard touchdown.

“We had opportunities to get off the field those first two possessions and we didn’t,” Jenkins said. “Give credit to them. They made plays and we didn’t. If we can make one of those plays, maybe we’re looking at a different first half. You never know how the momentum is going to go in a game like this. Maybe if we made one of those plays we could have stayed in the game a little longer. Sometimes it’s not what you do it’s what they do.”

Saturday’s game will be remembered for many things. It was one of those rare occasions when two teams played against each other but still brought an entire parish together — literally. It pitted the East Bank against the West Bank and the veteran head coach versus his protégé.

Sure there was trash-talking and bantering between fans from both sides, but it was all in good-natured fun. And, whether they wanted to admit it or not, most fans were rooting for both teams.

“All of us, both Lutcher and St. James, we’re going to live in St. James Parish,” Jenkins said. “We’re going to make St. James Parish great. We have to respect each other. We’ll be working beside each other in chemical plants up and down this river together. We’ll be neighbors. We can compete on Friday nights but we’re going to respect each other 365 days a year.”

Lutcher will have the most bragging rights, however, having won seven titles now, four under Detillier as head coach. The 21-year coach of the Bulldogs elected to skip Saturday’s post-game press conference to celebrate with his team in the locker room, something he said (through Zeringue) he has never done before.

It has been 36 years since St. James won a state championship. It now has four runner-up trophies. But at least half of St. James Parish believes the Wildcats will get a chance at the other one before too long. Just four years ago the team was 0-10 and would suffer through an 0-25 streak before things turned around.

“I just want to give so much credit to Coach Jenkins,” Zeringue said. “I’m a St. James alumnus. I played there. I was on the last state championship team there. And I am so proud of what he’s done with that program and where he’s taking them in the future.”