MICHAEL KIRAL / L’Observateur / August 31, 1998

BOUTTE – The defenses were ahead of the offenses as West St. John andHahnville played to a scoreless tie Thursday night in the second game of the Roussel’s Goodyear River Parishes Jamboree at Hahnville High School.

Hahnville was limited to 90 yards, all on the ground, in total offense.

Rafeal Joseph led the way with 73 yards on 18 carries. West St. John washeld to 66 yards. Dehaven Duronslet had 32 yards on 12 carries, while CarlGauthier completed four passes to Brian Lumar for 42 yards.

Hahnville held the Rams on the first possession of the game but a roughing the kicker call against the Tigers kept the drive alive. But after Gauthiercompleted a pass to Troy Lagrange for three yards, Duronslet was stripped of the ball in the backfield with Greg Becnel recovering for Hahnville at the West St. John 29-yard line.The Rams quickly knocked away the threat, however, as Brent Poche stretched to intercept Kade Rogers’ pass at the 15-yard line. The Tigerdefense again held after the turnover with Becnel hitting Jamar Bailey for a 10 yard loss, forcing the Rams to punt.

Hahnville took over possession at the Rams 48-yard line and started driving downfield. Joseph gained eight yards and then burst up the middlefor a 17-yard gain. But on third-and-12 from the 25, Donriel Louisintercepted Rogers’ pass at the 20 and returned it to the West St. John 43-yard line.

The Rams went right to work after the turnover. Duronslet went for sixyards and Bailey followed by sweeping left for an 18-yard gain to the Tigers’ 34-yard line. But Hahnville halted the drive three plays later asShane Smith made a diving interception at the 14-yard line.

West St. John had another opportunity late in the half. Poche forced Rogersto fumble with a sack from the blind side with Torrian Thomas recovering for the Rams at the West St. John 44-yard line. Gauthier then hit Lumar onthe left sideline for a 12-yard gain to the Hahnville 44-yard line with one minute remaining. But the Tiger defense stiffened, forcing Gauthier tothrow incomplete four straight times to end the drive.

It was the same story in the second half. Hahnville took the second halfkickoff and drove to its 48-yard line behind the running of Joseph. But onsecond-and-six, Keith Lumar hit Joseph in the backfield for a two-yard loss and Rogers threw incomplete on third down.

Hahnville regained possession two plays later as Bailey and Gauthier fumbled a handoff and Josh Fiffie recovered for Hahnville at the Rams 20- yard line. But after two runs by Joseph gained five yards, Duronslet hitJoseph on a blitz up the middle. Joseph fumbled and Poche recovered forthe Rams at the 17-yard line.

West St. John started its final possession at its own 38 with 1:39 left inthe game. After a 3-yard gain by Duronslet, Gauthier connected with BrianLumar for gains of 16 and 13 yards to give the Rams a first down at the Hahnville 30 with under a minute left. But again the Hahnville defensecame up with a big play as Fiffie and Becnel combined on a sack, causing Gauthier to fumble. Fiffie recovered the ball at the 37 with 14 secondsleft.

After an incompletion by Rogers, Joseph swept right for six yards. Butwith four seconds left, Rogers could not find anybody open and scrambled, and was tackled after a 10-yard gain as the horn sounded.

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