MICHAEL KIRAL / L’Observateur / October 21, 1998

DESTREHAN – The Destrehan Wildcats can pull another step closer to a third straight district championship when its hosts South Lafourche Friday night at Destrehan Stadium.

Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.Both the Wildcats and Tarpons were preseason favorites for the district championship. Destrehan has lived up to those expectations, leadingDistrict 6-5A with a 4-0 record and a mark of 5-1 overall. SouthLafourche has struggled early on, however, starting district play with a 2- 2 record and a record of 3-3 overall.

Destrehan, ranked 16th in Class 5A, is coming off a hard-fought 14-13 victory at East St. John. The Wildcats needed a 12-yard touchdown passfrom Wendell Smith to Mitchell Jones on fourth-and-8 in the final six minutes to pull out the win. East St. John had one last opportunity to winthe game but the Destrehan defense stopped a late threat at the 32-yard line.

It was the Destrehan defense that kept the Wildcats in the game, allowing East St. John just 179 total yards, 156 of which came through the air.Linebacker Lance Carter intercepted East St. John quarterback Floyd Smiththree times, twice in the second half.

The Destrehan usually potent offense was held to 205 yards. KaronLeobaux led the way with 77 yards on 22 attempts. Leobaux leads theWildcats with 593 yards and four touchdowns on 106 carries.

Traun Smith added a one-yard touchdown run. Wendell Smith, showing theexperience of 34 consecutive starts, completed 5-of-7 passes for 42 yards and also ran for 37 yards on three attempts.

South Lafourche is coming off a 18-0 victory over H.L. Bourgeois. TheTarpons are looking for another late season run like they had last year when they advanced to the bi-district playoffs and upset West Jefferson before falling to Barbe in the regionals.

South Lafourche is led by Vic King, one of the top running backs in the state. The 6 foot, 185-pound senior rushed for 252 yards and threetouchdowns in the season-opener against Fortier after rushing for over 1,500 yards last season. King is joined in the backfield by senior fullbackReese Angelette. One of the Tarpons’ strong point is their offensive lineled by guard Renzi Sanders and Robert St. Pierre. Michael Delatte won thestarting quarterback role at the beginning of the season.

The defense was a question mark at the beginning of the year but came on last week after allowing 107 points through the first five games. Many ofthe Tarpons are getting their first experience in the starting lineup with linebacker Terrence Alario and defensive tackle Michael Carey the only returnees.

The game will be the Wildcats’ final home game of the regular season.

Destrehan travels to Terrebonne next Friday while South Lafourche hosts Hahnville.

Return To Sports Stories

Copyright © 1998, Wick Communications, Inc.

Internet services provided by NeoSoft.

Best viewed with 3.0 or higher