MICHAEL KIRAL / L’Observateur / August 19, 2000

LUTCHER – With the loss of quarterback Carl Gauthier and receivers Donriel Louis, Brian Lumar, Jeremy Lumar and Marlon Jackson and the return of its perimeter line, West St. John figures to be a run-orientedteam at least early in the 2000 season.

That rushing attack was evident in the Rams’ scrimmage at Lutcher Thursday night.

Davin Farnell, Amone Lumar, Devin Herbert and Darnell Landry all ran the ball effectively. Lutcher answered with three touchdown passes fromRisley St. Germain to Chris Johnson as the game finished in a 20-all tie.Both teams had success moving the ball early. On the first possession ofthe game, West St. John moved 70 yards in seven plays. On second-and-10from the Rams’ 40, Lumar broke through the middle for a 55-yard gain to the 5. Two plays later, Farnell went off the left side from a yard out.Herbert then found Lionel Howard for the 2-point conversion, making it 8- 0.

Lutcher answered right back on its first possession. Tyrone Martin hadgains of six and nine yards to give the Bulldogs a first down at the Lutcher 48. After Lumar sacked St. Germain for a four-yard loss, St. Germainthrew down the left sidelines for Johnson who took it down the sidelines to complete the 56-yard score. T.J. Bourgeois added the extra point tomake it 8-7.

Both teams were forced to punt on their possession. On the Rams’ thirdpossession, Aaron Sylvain made a diving catch on the left sidelines on pass from Randall Nicholson for a 32-yard gain to the Lutcher 34. Thedrive ended at the 29 as Lawrence Williams sacked Nicholson on fourth down.

It would take only one play for the Bulldogs to get back on the scoreboard as St. Germain hit Johnson on a quick slant over the middle. Johnson brokea tackle and took it 65 yards for the score. The extra point was no good,leaving the score at 13-8.

West St. John would come right back. A 19-yard slant pass from Herbert toSylvain on fourth-and-3 gave the Rams a first down at the Lutcher 32. Onfourth-and-5 from the 25, Herbert again kept the drive alive with a 14- yard pass to Randy Hilaire on the left sidelines. Two plays later, Herbertfound Jamilar Mayo on the right side from eight yards out for the score.

The try for two was stopped, making it 14-13.

A sack by Landry halted Lutcher’s last drive with the first team.

Lutcher would stop two drives by the West St. John second team inside theBulldogs’ 20-yard line with a fumble recovery by Brett Becnel and an interception by Marty Louque. West St. John would stop all three drives bythe Lutcher second team.

The Rams’ second team got back on the scoreboard the next time it touched the ball as Sylvain made an over-the-shoulder catch of a pass from Nicholson for a 55-yard touchdown, making it 20-13. Lutcher wouldstop the next two series with the Rams ending all three series by the Bulldogs’ second team.

Lutcher’s first team tied the game on its first series back as Johnson took a short pass by St. Germain on the right sidelines, turned upfield and tookit 69 yards for the score. Bourgeois added the extra point.West St. John moved to the Lutcher 21 on its next possession behind runsof seven and 16 yards by Herbert. But the Rams were held on fourth-and-2from the 21 to end the drive. After the Bulldogs were held, JeremyForeman grabbed an interception at the Lutcher 40 to end the game.

“I was pleased,” West St. John coach Laury Dupont said of his team’sperformance. “We know we have to run the football and we did that withsome success. The offensive line did a really good job. The interior did agood job against the rush and the defense did a good job. I feel good aboutthis team. The kids are working hard and getting better and that is all youcan ask.”

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