FIELD TEST: Rams score new surface
Published 12:02 am Saturday, August 27, 2016
EDGARD — A host of dignitaries were on hand at Thursday night’s West St. John High Jamboree to help christen the new artificial turf field. Then Mother Nature did some christening of her own.
Shortly after a ceremonial ribbon was cut by St. John the Baptist Parish Schools Superintendent Kevin George, a flash of lightning delayed the start of the action.
An hour later, as the East St. John and John Ehret junior varsity squads took the field for the first game, a cloud dumped an inch or more of rain, giving the new drainage system a serious test.
By all accounts, it passed.
“All that hard rain we took, in the past we’d have been sliding everywhere,” said East St. John coach Aldon Foster, whose youngsters had to play in the deluge. “They did a tremendous job on both sides.”
The fields at both Joe Keller Stadium in Reserve and Dinvaut Stadium in Edgard were refurbished over the summer by a private donor as part of the settlement of a lawsuit.
The $1.8 million project was installed by Mid-America Golf and Landscape of Missouri, the same company that installed turf fields at Hahnville and Destrehan High schools and the LSU football practice field in Baton Rouge.
“It’s something we wanted to do for our kids because they deserve the best,” George said. “This playing surface is going to allow them to play no matter what the weather is. It’s very beautiful. It goes well with the blue track around it. We’re very pleased with the way it came out.”
Not only did the field hold up beautifully, East St. John weathered the storm to defeat Ehret 6-0 in the first game. Jarius Monroe had a 55-yard interception return for the Wildcats’ lone touchdown. He had another nullified by penalty.
In the second game, West St. John showed strength in all phases to beat Sci Academy 33-0.
Dontrell Davis returned the opening kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown. Kylan Duhe scored on 4-yard run. Alyjah Borne had an interception for a touchdown.
Jamal Walters had another interception. Starting quarterback Austin Alexander connected with Jairon Johnson for two 2-point conversions and backup quarterback D’Andre Gaudia threw a touchdown pass to Glen Grayman.
“That was probably the most fun I’ve ever had playing football in my life,” Alexander said.
“It’s my first time playing quarterback in high school and it was a great feeling having command of the offense. We practiced on the field, but to have our first game on it was great.”
Like anything new, it needs some breaking in. Artificial turf fields are notorious for the little rubber pellets that stick to skin and find their way into everything.
“You get a lot of the little black things in your shoes,” said senior wide receiver Jamal Walters. “It’s something new, and we don’t get our cleats dirty anymore.”