DANIEL TYLER GOODEN / L’Observateur / September 9, 2000

EDGARD – After raining all day, the clouds took a break to let West St Johnbeat Ellender 24-6. Both the Rams and the Patriots had trouble adjustingto the water-logged field. West St. John managed to adjust and tookcontrol, while Ellender barely ever moved down field.

The first quarter was marred by missteps and the slick field. The 20penalties accrued by the end of the game started early as well. It took 12minutes of the game before a Rams drive ended in a touchdown.

HalfbackDevin Hebert took a handoff from Quarterback Randal Nicholson from their33-yardline down the left side to Ellender’s 37. The next three minutes,the Rams pushed their way down toward the goal line, Nicholson andHebert teaming up most the way. On their third down, Nicholson slidthrough the defense and covered the last 10 yards for the touchdown.

Split end Aaron Sylvain dashed out in front of the defenders and waited inthe right corner of the endzone for the catch and two-point conversion.

The score with two minutes left in the first quarter was 8-0.

The second half looked to run like the first, until West St. John defensiveend Dwayne Bastian dived on an Ellender fumble on their 10-yardline.

Amone Lumar, Nicholson and Hebert worked the last 10 yards, with Hebertagain running the last three for the score. His attempt to rush for thetwo-point conversion was shutdown, and the score with 7:33 on the clockwas 14-0.

Ellender again fumbled the ball on their next drive. Quarterback BillyKirkpatrick pitched the ball back as his rusher ran past without looking.

Dwayne Bastian again jumped on the ball and the Rams took over on theEllender 27-yardline.

The error didn’t pay off for West St. John though, as they turned aroundand made their own. Nicholson under-threw, allowing linebacker JesseMcGraw to tip the ball up to cornerback Shedrick Williams for Ellender’srecovery.

Ram’s defensive end Sandy Harris sacked Kirkpatrick after two Ellenderpenalties already drove the team back 10 yards. The drive stalled out andEllender punted.

The half ended with West St. John moving within eight yards of the goal,and being pushed back and penalized to the 21.

The second half consisted of more penalties and punts until Ellender’sdrive with 3:38 on the clock. West St. John defensive end Lionel Howardgave the Patriots something to fear as he sacked Kirkpatrick on his firstdown. Ellender stayed startled even as they attempted to punt off the 6-yardline. The center snapped the ball over Kirkpatrick’s head and out of theendzone, and easy two points for the Rams.

In the third quarter the Rams lost a touchdown with an illegal man downfield as Sylvain caught a pass from the 20-yard line and slide into theright corner of the endzone.

The team made up for it, rushing back down from the 25 yard-line withfive plays. Hebert again stepped up to take the ball in. Sylvian followed upwith the two-point conversion, and the score hung over Ellender, 24-0.

With one minute left on the clock, Ellender’s running back Clarence Scottrushed in from the 22-yard line, finally putting the Patriots on the board.

The passing game for both the teams was poor, Ellender threw 51 yards toWest. St. John’s eight. The Rams more than made up for their passingfaults with 251 yards gained in rushing. The Patriots made only 13 yardsby foot. Ellender totaled 64 yards to West St. John’s 259 yards.

Return To Sports Stories

Copyright © #Thisyear# Wick Communications, Inc.Best viewed with 4.0 or higher