MICHAEL KIRAL / L’Observateur / September 9, 2000

RESERVE – East St. John got defensive against St. James Friday night.

The Wildcats held St. James to 72 total yards and forced six turnovers in a20-0 victory at Joe Keller Stadium.

East St. John improved to 1-1 on the season while St. James, ranked eighthin Class 3A, fell to 1-1.

Two of East St. John’s scores came after the Wildcats took over in St.

James territory. East St. John intercepted St. James’ quarterback ChrisHymel five times while holding him to 2-of-14 passing for seven yards.

Brandon Brown had two interceptions with Michael Brown, Travis Walkerand Brandon Mason grabbing one apiece. St. James also had a bobbled snapon a punt attempt that led to an East St. John score.

St. James had 28 carries for 65 yards. Travell Steib led the way with 26yards on four carries. Montrell Steib had 13 carries for 23 yards whileMichael Harry added 20 yards on seven attempts. The Wildcats’ longestgain from scrimmage was a 13-yard run by Montrell Steib in the fourthquarter.

East St. John had 313 yards in total offense. Chuckie Burl led the way with95 yards and a touchdown on 12 carries. Tremaine Moore added 42 yards on11 attempts. Darwin Pittman completed 9-of-17 passes for 143 yards andtwo touchdowns. Louis Gardner had three of the catches for 42 yards and ascore. Raydel Patterson also had three catches for 61 yards and a score.

East St. John ran only eight plays in the first quarter, all runs, butcapitalized on a St. James turnover to take a 7-0 lead. On St. James’second possession from the 37, Hymel was sacked by Kirston Pittman fora 7-yard loss. Two plays later, Michael Brown intercepted Guidry in theright flat at the 41, cut to the sidelines, broke a tackle at the 26 andreturned the ball to the 15.

It didn’t take long for the Wildcats to capitalize on the turnover. On thefirst play, Burl took a handoff, cut left, bulled through a tackler at the 2and carried him into the endzone. Blank added the extra point, giving theWildcats a 7-0 with 3:56 left in the first quarter.

East St. John held St. James on the next possession and took over at its 32.

Pittman rolled right and spun for a 7-yard gain to keep the drive alive onthird-and-4 from the 38. On the next play, Burl went up the middle, brokea tackle in the secondary and carried to the 24 for a 31-yard gain as thefirst quarter ended.

East St. John finally attempted a pass on the first play of the secondquarter but it fell incomplete. Three plays later, however, from the 24,Pittman faded a pass to Louis Gardner on the right side. Gardner caught theball just inside the goal line for the score. Blank added the extra point,increasing the lead to 14-0 with 10:23 left in the half.

East St. John got the ball back a play later as Brandon Brown made ajuggling interception of Hymel in the right flat at the St. James 32. Butthe Wildcats could not capitalize as Shane Kliebert sacked Pittman for atwo-yard loss on fourth-and-16 from the 28.

St. James would give the ball back to East St. John four plays later as SethFolse bobbled the snap on a punt at the 31 and was stopped after a 7-yardgain on fourth-and-9. Tremaine Moore carried to the 22. Two plays laterfrom the 18, Pittman hit Raydel Patterson slanting over the middle insidethe 10 with Patterson taking it in for the score. The extra point was nogood, leaving the score 20-0 with 2:35 left in the half.

St. James’ only threat of the first half came after Brandon Mason muffed apunt at his 48 after St. James’ first possession. St. James drove to theEast St. John 35 but Montrell Steib fumbled with Kirston Pittmanrecovering for East St. John at the 35. St. James was held to 15 yards onthe ground in the first half, all on the ground.

East St. John had 173 yards on the break. Burl had 18 carries for 89 yardsand a touchdown. Pittman completed 5-of-8 passes for 61 yards and twoscores.

St. James had its best field position after Davin Dennis made a runningcatch of a Mervin Williams’ punt and returned it 26 yards to the 24 afterEast St. John’s opening possession of the second half. Two plays later,East St. John came away with another turnover as Brandon Brown grabbedhis second interception at the 2 and returned it to the 16. The Wildcats moved the ball to the St. James 20 behind a 31-yard pass onthe right side from Pittman to Wade Walker and runs of 10 and nine yardsby Moore. Blank attempted a 38-yard field goal but had it blocked byKennie Harrison.

St. James moved out to its 41 but Melvin Dumas was stopped in thebackfield by Kentrell Robertson and Ricky Nevers for a 2-yard loss onfourth-and-1.

Pittman completed a 36-yard pass to Patterson to the St. James 3 on theensuing play but Lyntonio Joseph recovered a fumble by Moore at the 2 oneplay later for St. James.

Mason would stop St James two possessions later with an interception atthe East St. John 30, returning it 28 yards to the 42. One drive later, itwas Walker’s turn, grabbing an interception at the East ST. John 30. St.

James got the ball right back as Jarrel Price intercepted Blank’s tippedpass at the East St. John 43 but Montrell Steib was stopped for no gain onfourth-and-1 at the 34.

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