MICHAEL KIRAL / L’Observateur / October 28, 1998

RESERVE – If the East St. John football team is ever looking for a sponsor,an antacid company might be a good place to start.

The Cardiac Cats was the nickname given to the Wildcats baseball team this past spring but recently the name could apply to the football one as well as each of East St. John’s last two games have been decided by asingle point.

East St. John has split those two games to improve to 5-2 overall and 3-2in District 6-5A play. The Wildcats will look to move into second place inthe district and improve their standings in the playoff race when they travel to Central Lafourche Friday night.

The Wildcats are currently in a tie with Terrebonne for third place in District 6-5A, a game behind Central Lafourche. The Trojans are 5-2overall and 4-1 in district play.

East St. John broke a two-game losing streak with a 13-12 victory atHahnville last Friday. The Wildcats were able to come away with thevictory thanks to a defense that bent did not break, coming away with two key fumbles inside the East St. John 30-yard line in the second half. GregGathers and John Moll made the recoveries at the 6- and 26-yard, respectively.

Samson Monica caused the second by blitzing into the backfield and nailing Hahnville running back Charles Taylor. The defense also forced the Tigersto settle for a field goal after having a first-and-goal at the 9 in the first half.

East St. John actually trailed, 10-7, going into the half, despite out-gaining the Tigers, 201-96. Chuckie Burl put the Wildcats ahead to staylate in the third quarter, however, breaking to the outside for a 76-yard touchdown dash. Burl finished as the game’s leading rusher with 75 yardson nine carries.

East St. John totalled 312 yards in the contest, 176 on the ground. FloydSmith completed eight passes in 15 tries for 136 yards and a touchdown while adding 43 yards on the ground. Roydel Williams caught five of thosepasses for 98 yards.

Smith continues to be the leading passer in the River Parishes, completing 62 of his 130 passes (48 percent) for 1,139 yards and 12 touchdowns.

Williams has been on the receiving end of 31 of those passes for 637 yards and six touchdowns.

East St. John will look to keep that offense going against a CentralLafourche team coming off a 16-7 victory at Thibodaux. Junior runningback Torrell Sylvester led the way, scoring on a 71-yard reception from Russell Carlisle and a one-yard run. The defense held Thibodaux to 184total yards and forced four fumbles.

Sylvester had a 251-yard, two-touchdown night against H.L. Bourgeois Oct.2. Like Sylvester, Carlisle is a newcomer at his position. The front wall issolid with junior guards Derrick Landry and William Schreiter, tight end James Duplantis, center Andy Zeringue and seniors Courtney Smith and Rowdy Chiasson.

The defense, which comes into the game allowing just over 10 points a game, is led by all-district linebacker Travis Douglas. Senior defensiveend Jan Cressionie and senior defensive backs Chris Lagarde and Andy Rister are also solid.

East St. John excelled in all phases of the game a year ago, trouncing theTrojans, 35-0, to wrap up second place in the district. Franklin McKinnispassed for over 180 yards, the defense held Central Lafourche to 103 total yards and the special teams blocked a punt to set up a touchdown.

East St. John closes out the regular season at home against Thibodaux.Central Lafourche travels to South Lafourche.

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