Destrehan prevails over ESJ in 5 OTs

Published 12:00 am Saturday, October 2, 1999

MICHAEL KIRAL / L’Observateur / October 2, 1999

RESERVE – The fans at the East St. John-Destrehan game Friday night atJoe Keller Stadium got their money’s worth. And then some.Ivan Mashia found Allan Decker from 10 yards out to give Destrehan a 57- 50 victory in five overtimes. The Wildcats sacked Floyd Smith on third andfourth down on East St. John’s ensuing possession to preserve the victory.Destrehan improved to 4-1 overall and 2-0 in District 7-5A. East St. Johnfell to 2-3 overall and 1-1 in district. It was the fourth straight victoryin the series for Destrehan.

Mashia finished with 19 completions in 32 attempts for 148 yards and four touchdowns. Deron Love had 167 yards and three touchdowns on 25carries.

Chuckie Burl had 159 yards and three touchdowns on 40 carries. Smithcompleted 12-of-27 passes for 142 yards and two touchdowns and ran for two touchdowns.

The teams traded touchdowns through the first four overtime periods.

Mashia found Corey Eugene for the first score. East St. John came rightwith a 2-yard run by Burl. Destrehan made it 36-29 on a 10-yard passfrom Mashia to Allan Decker. East St. John tied the game on a 4-yard passfrom Smith to Williams.

Destrehan appeared to have to settle for a field goal on its next possession. But the Wildcats pulled a fake with Danny Krieger findingDamien Richard for the score. East St. John again tied the score as Burlswept in from 10 yards out. The Wildcats went ahead 50-43 on a 10-yardpass from Mashia to Richard Jones. Burl bulled in from the 1 to send it tothe fifth overtime.

Destrehan had a chance to win the game in regulation after Lekeith Robinson recovered a fumble by Burl at the East St. John 47. On fourth-and-4 from the 41, Mashia hit Richard Jones on a screen to the right. Jonesbroke a tackle and took it down to the 16 before being taken down. AfterLove was stopped for no gain, the Wildcats hurried their field goal team onmto the field but Scifres 33-yard field goal was blocked by Brandon Mason as time expired.

Destrehan had tied the game with 2:52 left as Love scored his third touchdown from 3 yards out. The Wildcats had driven 52 yards in nineplays after Darnell Arline had returned th kickoff 23 yards down the left sidelines. Love gained 28 yards on the drive and Mashia added a 13-yardkeeper.

East St. John went ahead 22-15 with 6:26 remaining on a 1-yard sneak bySmith, his second rushing touchdown of the game. Smith then hit Williamsin the end zone for the two-point conversion. A 15-yard pass from Smithto Williams and holding and pass interference calls against Destrehan helped key the 15-play, 63-yard drive.

A 10-yard run by Love gave Destrehan a 15-14 lead with 22 seconds left in the third quarter. Jamall Johnson set the score up by intercepting Smithat the Destrehan 42 and returning it 48 yards to the 10. Mashia threwincomplete on the two-point attempt.

A 51-yard punt to the Destrehan 12 by Chris Bush set up East St. John’sfirst score of the second half. After forcing Destrehan to punt, East St.John took over at the Wildcat 26. After a 3-yard run by Burl, Smith foundWilliams slanting in to complete the 23-yard score. Hogan’s extra pointmade it 14-9 with 5:25 left in the third.

Destrehan rebounded from a slow start to take a 9-7 lead at halftime. A21-yard punt return by Danny Krieger and a personal foul on East St. Johnat the end of the run gave Destrehan possession at the East St. John 25-yard line with 1:31 left. Mashia hit Love on an 8-yard screen and RichardJones on a 9-yard pass on the left side to move the ball to the 5. AfterMashia threw incomplete on third down, Scifres came in to nail the 22- yard field goal attempt with 24 seconds left in the half.

East St. John drove 70 yards in 14 plays on its opening drive, taking 7:02off the clock. The Wildcats ran the ball on 10 of the 14 plays with Burlcarrying seven times for 21 yards. Smith snuck it in after Terron Charlescarried nine yards to the 1 on a reverse. Hogan’s extra point made it 7-0with 4:57 left in the opening quarter.

East St. John failed to pull further ahead in the quarter, however, asKrieger blocked Hogan’s 30-yard field goal attempt on the Wildcats’ next drive. After a Destrehan punt, Burl went right on a counter, broke throughthe pack and went down the sidelines before Damian Richard brought him down at the 14-yard line after a 43-yard run. On the next play, however,Brandon August fumbled with Shane LeBoyd recovering for Destrehan at the 15.

Destrehan, which had gained a total of four yards to that point, quickly took advantage of the turnover. Love took the handoff up the middle, brokethrough the line, cut left, got a block from Fred Smith and went down the sidelines to complete the 85-yard run. The extra point attempt wasbobbled, leaving the score 7-6 with 10:42 remaining in the second quarter.

Destrehan missed a chance to go ahead on its next possession as Scifres’ 40-yard field was blocked. The drive was kept alive as East St. John wascalled for too many field on a Destrehan punt attempt. An 18-yard passfrom Mashia to Love gave the Wildcats a first down at the East St. John37.

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