Destrehan holds off St. Amant comeback, defeat Gators 21-19
Published 12:00 am Wednesday, October 17, 2007
By RYAN ARENA
Sports Editor
After two weeks of district play, No. 3 ranked Destrehan is where most expected them to be – undefeated, and on top of the standings.
But if the last two weeks have proven anything, it’s that even for the preseason favorites, nothing is going to come easy in district 6-5A.
A week after the Wildcats’ big comeback win at home over Hahnville, Destrehan was charged with the task of warding off another on the road, this time in its game with St. Amant.
Destrehan’s Darion White deflected a 39-yard field goal attempt by St. Amant’s Colby Robert with 24 seconds remaining in the game, preserving a 21-19 win for the Wildcats in a District 6-5A contest.
“We had too many penalties,” said Destrehan Coach Stephen Robicheaux. “We were very undisciplined. We were fortunate to be able to win there.”
Destrehan (7-0, 2-0) had 10 penalties for 113 yards, and turned the ball over three times, opening a window of opportunity for St. Amant.
The blocked kick was not the only big play that the Wildcats had to make late to preserve the win. After the Gators’ Josh Jordon fired a 7-yard touchdown pass to Jermoine Lewis to make it 21-19 with 1:41 left in the game.
St. Amant (3-4, 0-2) went for a two-point conversion to tie. But Destrehan defensive lineman Darrington Sentimore pressured Jordan on the attempt, forcing an incompletion.
“We needed someone to step up and make a play, there,” Robicheaux said.
Destrehan quarterback Jordan Jefferson was 17-27 with 243 yards and two touchdowns. Tim Molton caught seven passes for 141 yards and two touchdowns. Damaris Johnson had six catches for 64 yards and a score.
Jerico Nelson led Destrehan in rushing with 19 carries for 97 yards and a touchdown.
Jefferson found Molton on a 30-yard touchdown strike, and soon after found Johnson for a 21-yard touchdown to put the Wildcats ahead 14-0 in the first quarter.
But St. Amant scored twice in the second quarter to cut the lead to one, 14-13, as the teams went into the half.
Nelson’s 11-yard third quarter run gave Destrehan a 21-13 lead, but the Wildcats could not turn any of their remaining drives into points.
Robicheaux praised the defensive efforts of Sentimore and defensive back Antonio Parker in the game. Sentimore tallied six tackles and two sacks, while Parker had seven tackles and an interception.
