Michael Kiral / L’Observateur / May 27, 1998

EDGARD – West St. John ended its spring football season with a victoryover South Terrebonne Thursday night.

After South Terrebonne scored on its first series of plays, Carl Gauthier tied the game on a 4-yard sweep on the Rams’ first possession. Runs of 15and 14 yards by Jamar Bailey helped set up the touchdown.

West St. John took the lead on South Terrebonne’s next series. MarlonJackson recovered a fumble at the Gators’ 49-yard line and took it down the right sidelines for the score.

The defenses took over on the next couple of series before South Terrebonne tied the score on a 75-yard touchdown run. After the Gatorsheld West St. John on its ensuing possession, the Rams’ defense got adefensive stand of its own, getting two sacks over the Gators’ next two possessions.

The West St. John offense then gained momentum as Dehaven Duronsletbanged up the middle for 34 yards and came back with a 13-yard run.

Bailey capped off the drive by sweeping left from 16 yards out.

The offense continued to move the ball on its next possession behind the passing of Gauthier. The drive ended as Gauthier found Brian Lumar alongthe left sideline. Lumar broke a tackle and took it into the endzone to capoff the 39-yard scoring play.

Gauthier finished the game with seven completions in his seven attempts.

“It ended very positive offensively and defensively,” West St. John coachLaury Dupont said of the spring game. “The defense shut them down and wewere able to score twice at the end.

“The bright spot was that we threw the ball very well and caught the ball well. And the defense came back and played aggressive at the end.”The game closed out a nine-day spring season for the Rams. Dupont saidthe team’s biggest strength going into the summer program is the team’s line play. The Rams’ line returns mostly intact from a year ago with theexception of Arthur Johnson on offense and Donriel Borne on defense, both all-district selections.

Gauthier replaces all-district selection Adair Alexander at quarterback.

Bailey, Duronslet and Torraine Thomas look to fill Joseph Gross’ shoes at running back and all three ran well during the spring game. Other returningstarters include Lumar, Michael Lewis and Dominic Harper on offense and Jackson on defense. Dupont said he has 30 returning lettermen from a yearago.

Dupont said work that still needs to be done in the fall is improving technique on both sides of the ball and getting depth behind the starters.

The team did come out of spring without any injuries.

The Rams will now hit the weight room four days a week during the summer. Dupont said how they do there and the state of mind they takeinto the fall will determine how the team will do but said he is very optimistic about the season.

The Rams open the season on the road against traditional rival St. James.West St. John opens its home season against Plaquemine before travelingto White Castle. A home game against Donaldsonville and an away gameagainst Port Sulphur closes out the pre-district schedule.

The Rams open their defense of their District 9-2A title at home against Riverside before traveling to St. Martin’s and St. Charles Catholic. A homegame against Ridgewood closes out the district season with the season ending at home against Ellender in a non-district game.

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