MICHAEL KIRAL / L’Observateur / October 27, 1999

DESTREHAN – When Destrehan and Hahnville meet Friday night in their annual cross-parish clash, more than just parish bragging rights will be on the line.

Destrehan (7-1 overall and 5-0 in District 7-5A) will be out to wrap up its fourth straight district title outright. Hahnville (4-4, 1-3) will look toput itself in the middle of the playoff chase.

But even if there were no playoff implications at stake, this would be one to come out for.

“They don’t come much bigger than this one,” Lou Valdin, in his first Destrehan-Hahnville game as head coach of the Tigers, said.

Destrehan defeated Hahnville, 24-0, last season, extending its winning streak in the series to three games. Destrehan would go on to win thedistrict title and advance to the quarterfinals while Hahnville would struggle through a 1-8 season.

But both teams have a different look than that of those 1998 squads. Foryears a wing-T team, Destrehan has gone more wide open this year. IvanMashia has passed for 930 yards and 10 touchdowns this season. Freshmanreceiver Fred Smith is one of the leading receivers in the River Parishes despite being held in check against South Lafourche last Friday.

“They’re an entirely different team,” Valdin said. “They look a lot like us.I think they are a lot more dangerous now. They still run the wing-T butwith their passing offense, they also have that come-from-behind ability.”But defense remains the Wildcats’ trademark. Destrehan held SouthLafourche to 258 yards last Friday and forced four turnovers. DamianRichard returned a fumble 97 yards for the Wildcats’ first score.

“Defensively, they are real good, probably the best we will see this season,” Valdin said of the Wildcats.

That defense keyed a 14-13 victory over the Tarpons, clinching at least a tie for the district title. The Wildcats were held in check for much of thegame, gaining just 107 yards, three rushing, but came through when they had to. Mashia connected with Smith on a 41-yard touchdown strike with1:30 left for the winning score.

“We made a play when we had to,” Destrehan coach Scott Martin said. “Butwe were in that position because our defense played good. Ivan Mashiathrew the ball well and Fred Smith made some big catches for us.”This week, Destrehan will be facing a Hahnville team that has improved on both sides of the ball. Dawan Landry is the top passer among area Class 5Aquarterbacks, having completed 102 passes in 202 attempts for 1,604 yards and 14 touchdowns. Mark Young has gained 534 yards on receptions.The Tigers are coming off a 23-21 come-from-behind victory at home against Brother Martin. Landry passed for 285 yards and two touchdownsin the game while Skyler Boyle led the rushing attack with 85 yards.

(See BATTLE, Page 2C) “I’m really proud of them,” Valdin said of a team that has lost three games by a total of eight points this season. “Almost every game we’vebeen close. We have been in every game except for South Lafourche and Iwanted to see how the kids would bounce back and they bounced back good.

“We ran the ball better than we had. When people don’t know if we aregoing to run or throw, we have been having a lot of success. Coming off awin against a team like Brother Martin gives us confidence going up against Destrehan.”Valdin said the key for his team against the Wildcats will be maintaining that running attack.

“We have to be able to run the football,” Valdin said. “We have to be ableto execute on offense and keep their offense off the field. Defensively, wecannot give up anything cheap. We have to make them drive down the fieldfor points. And we have to shut down their running game.”Martin said the game could come down to whoever makes the fewest mistakes.

“We have to have offensive production,” Martin said. The defense has tocontinue to play well. We have to eliminate turnovers. In a big game with alot of emotions, it’s important to do that.”Destrehan travels to Hammond while Hahnville hosts Thibodaux next week to close out the regular season.

Return To Sports Stories

Copyright © 1998, Wick Communications, Inc.

Internet services provided by NeoSoft.

Best viewed with 3.0 or higher