Wildcats can clinch tie for fourth straight title

Published 12:00 am Wednesday, October 20, 1999

MICHAEL KIRAL / L’Observateur / October 20, 1999

DESTREHAN – Destrehan will be out to make history when it travels to South Lafourche Friday night.

With a win over the second place Tarpons (4-3 overall, 3-0 in District 7- 5A), the Wildcats (6-1, 4-0) can clinch at a tie for their fourth straight district title for the first time in school history. A victory and a win thefollowing week against cross-parish rival Hahnville would clinch the title outright.

Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. in Galliano.Destrehan is coming off a 48-12 thumping of South Terrebonne on the road. The Wildcats rolled up 389 yards in total offense, led by DechadWard who rushed for 166 yards and five touchdowns on 18 attempts. IvanMashia completed 12-of-17 passes for 176 yards, four to Richard Jones for 100 yards and a touchdown. Mashia moved up the list of topquarterbacks in the River Parishes, having now completed 75-of-151 passes for 841 yards and nine touchdowns.

The Destrehan defense limited South Terrebonne to 77 yards in offense and only a yard passing. The Wildcats recovered four fumbles by theGators.

South Lafourche is also coming off a dominating victory in district play, 41-14 at home over Hahnville. Like the Wildcats, the Tarpons had anoutstanding rushing performance as Gavin Buffinet ran for three touchdowns and scored a fourth receiving.

Joshua Allen added to the 341 yards in total offense by rushing for 147 yards on 15 carries.

Destrehan will see a familiar formation as the Tarpons run out of the wing-T with deviations. Allen and Lewis will be the tailbacks withBuffinet at fullback and Anthony Pitre at wingback. Guiding that attack isquarterback Nathan Hanberry with Sterling Mack and Aaron Montez his leading receivers. Center Trevor Bourg and tackle Andy Griffin lead theblocking up front.

The Tarpon defense has given up big yardage totals to Brother Martin and Hahnville in the last two games. The Tarpons play out of the 40 withlinebacker Terrence Alario leading the charge. John Boudreaux led theteam in interceptions last season and Cody Collins returned an interception 60 yards for a score last week. Jon Shaw and Derrick Barriosare the top linemen.

Destrehan’s streak of district titles started with a 20-7 victory over South Lafourche in 1996.

HAHNVILLE – BROTHER MARTIN

HAHNVILLE – Hahnville faces a stern test as it steps out of District 7-5A play against Brother Martin Friday night.

Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. at Hahnville’s Tiger Stadium.Hahnville (3-4 overall, 1-3 in District 7-5A) is coming off a 41-14 loss at South Lafourche last Friday. The Tigers rolled up 331 yards in offense butcould only get two Kade Rogers field goals and a 5-yard touchdown run by Dawan Landry.

Landry was one of the top quarterbacks in the River Parishes heading into the game with over a 1,000 yards passing and 11 touchdowns on 66 completions in 133 attempts.

Brother Martin (5-2 overall) is coming off a 31-14 loss to Archbishop Rummel Saturday afternoon. Ironically, the Tigers will be facing a secondstraight opponent that was trampled by Rummel’s Derron Parquet. Parquetgained 234 yards and scored four times against the Crusaders after rushing for over 300 yards against South Lafourche.

Brother Martin has a pretty good running back itself in Phillip Brock. Brockhad 154 yards and a touchdown on 28 carries against the Raiders. Thesenior improved his totals on the year to 1,134 yards and 15 touchdowns on 175 carries. His 16 overall touchdowns are among the metro arealeaders in Class 5A.

Senior Brett Thomas is the quarterback and will be looking to throw to two possession-type receivers in Stephen Ballier and Stephen Lagasse and tight end Chris Zeringue. The line is led by seniors Myles Martin and LaneMacaluso.

The defense returns just three starters from a year ago. Two of the bestare defensive end Robbie Kemp and linebacker Trent Hebert.

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