MICHAEL KIRAL / L’Observateur / September 15, 1999

RESERVE – “These are the times that try men’s souls.”The East St. John Wildcats are finding the truth behind Thomas Paine’swords. Two weeks into the 1999 season, the Wildcats are 0-2, with bothlosses coming in the final minutes of the game.

In week one, it was Lutcher’s Thomas Ricks scoring on a draw from six yards out with two minutes to play to give the Bulldogs a 35-28 victory.

Last week, it was St. James’ Alvin Bartholomew capping an 18-pointcomeback in the second half with a 27-yard field goal with 3:51 left to give his team a 24-23 win.

“We’ve played hard both games,” East St. John coach Ronnie Stephens said.”We’ve just come up short on the scoreboard.”Making matters worse is that the Wildcats may be without starting quarterback Floyd Smith for awhile. Smith separated his left (non-throwing) shoulder on a scramble early in the third quarter Friday night and Stephens said he will not play until he can play without pain. SeniorJarrod Nabor, who replaced Smith Friday, will get his first start this week against Warren Easton.

“I thought he did ok,” Stephens said of Nabor’s performance Friday. “He didwhat he was supposed to do. Now we have to prepare him to get him readyfor this week. With a week to prepare, he will be a lot better Fridaynight.”Before going out, Smith had passed for 108 yards and a score. Chuckie Burlhad his second straight 100-yard gain, rushing for 121 yards on 21 carries. Terron Charles and Brandon August added touchdowns on theground for the Wildcats. The defense held St. James out of the end zoneearly but allowed 415 yards in total offense after allowing 304 yards to Lutcher the week before.

This week, the Wildcats will be facing a Warren Easton team coming off a 28-0 loss to Brother Martin. The Eagles were held to five yards rushingand 72 yards overall. Easton fared better in its season opener, defeatingFontainebleau, 22-14, as Jamall Major passed for 113 yards.

Major, a junior who has moved to quarterback from wide receiver, is the leader on offense. The Eagles lost their entire backfield and threemembers of their offensive line but return split end Calvin Breaux and tight end Rodney James.

On defense, senior defensive end Royce James returns after being named all-district last season. Senior safety Ahmad Treaudo, who interceptedtwo passes in the season opener, is also among the nine starters returning on defense.

“They have a lot of team speed on both offense and defense,” Stephens said of the Eagles. “They have a couple of good receivers and thequarterback is a good athlete. Defensively, they run to the football reallywell.

“It’s a mental game,” Stephens added about the key to the game. “We’veplayed hard for two weeks and come up short twice. We need to win afootball game. If we are mentally into it and are focused, we will be ok. Ifnot, we will struggle.”Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Joe Keller Stadium.The Wildcats open District 7-5A play next Friday at Hahnville.

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