Rams roll by Braves

Published 12:00 am Sunday, September 17, 2000

LEONARD GRAY / L’Observateur / September 17, 2000

EDGARD – West St. John overcame early stumbles to roll up a 51-18 winFriday night against visitors H.L. Bourgeois. Both teams managed to takeadvantage of breaks to score. However, it was the Rams who emergedtriumphant.

The Bourgeois Braves accepted the opening kickoff and quarterback Chris Jones launched his offensive assault on the home team, coupled with the running of Akeem Kimber.

Kimber had taken the kickoff to the Braves’ 23-yard line but after only gaining 13 yards, and that aided by a Rams penalty, Bourgeois began to punt.

However, WSJ’s Lionel Howard successfully blocked the kick, Sandy Harris snared the ball in the air and trotted into the end zone for the opening touchdown with 9:55 remaining on the first quarter clock. A two-pointconversion run was held off, and the Rams had a 6-0 lead.

Bourgeois’ next drive was crippled by back-to-back sacks which cost them 11 yards and their punt placed West St. John at the HLB 45-yard line. TheRams was not able to move on the ball and gave up the ball on downs at the Bourgeois 37-yard line.

Jones squirted up the middle on two consecutive plays which slammed West St. John back to the Ram 10-yard line with four minutes remaining inthe first period. Four plays later, Jonathan Bergeron made a diving catch inthe end zone for the go-ahead score with 1:22 remaining to the first quarter. A two-point conversation pass failed, and the score was knottedat 6-6.

Now pumped for the game, Bourgeois nailed West St. John down after thekickoff and after two plays, defensive tackle Brian Williams scooped up a loose ball and rumbled toward the end zone, only to be brought down at the 1-yard line with 30 seconds remaining in the first quarter.

On the first play of the second quarter, Jones scored on a keeper for the go-ahead touchdown, and the Braves led 12-6.

That was enough for West St. John, and the guns opened fire. The Ramstook the kickoff at their 31-yard line, and Devin Herbert and Amone Lumar teamed to blast down the field in five plays for another Rams touchdown.

Herbert’s pass to Aaron Sylvain scored the two-point conversion and West St. John moved into the 14-12 lead, never looking back.On HLB’s second play after their kickoff reception, Jones was back to pass when he was hit and the loose ball was scooped up by Coy Boudoin at the Bourgeois 24-yard line with 8:38 remaining in the half.

Four plays later, Herbert scored on a five-yard run with eight minutes remaining. A two-point conversion pass reception by Jamailar Mayho edgedthe Rams to a 22-12 lead.

Bourgeois’ next possession was likewise short-lived, for on their second play from scrimmage, a fumble ended up in Dwayne Bastain’s hands at the West St. John 46-yard line.The Rams powered down to the 1-yard line but was stopped short with 3:25 remaining to the half and Bourgeois took over on downs.

Three plays later, Randy Hilaire intercepted a Braves’ pass at the Bourgeois 22-yard line and, three plays later, Darnell Landry scored on a four-yard rumble with 1:39 remaining on the first half clock.

A two-point pass reception conversion pushed the Rams’ lead to 30-12.

West St. John’s first possession fizzled at the Braves’ 43-yard line beforepunting. The Bourgeois Braves moved seven yards before punting straightup and straight down, handing the ball back to the Rams on the HLB 15- yard line.

Even with that, the Rams failed to capitalize and ended up losing possession on downs at the Braves’ 11-yard line with 6:23 left in the third period.

HLB failed themselves to move out of their own territory and their punt landed at the Braves’ 17-yard line.

This time, the Rams were ready and, six plays later with 2:41 remaining, Aaron Sylvain snared the scoring pass. Amone Lumar’s PAT kick was good,and West St. John was leading 37-12.The Braves got nowhere fast on their next possession, losing two yards on a sack and then two incomplete passes. The punt placed the Rams at theWest St. John 43-yard line.On the next play, Devin Hebert swept right and barrelled down to the Braves’ 23-yard line. Five plays later and into the opening seconds of thefourth quarter, Lumar hauled in an 11-yard pass for the touchdown. ThePAT kick was too low, so West St. John led 43-12.The Bourgeois Braves launched their last scoring drive from their own 34- yard line and climaxed with a 17-yard pass reception by Lawrence Haynes with 7:49 left in the game. A two-point conversion pass was picked off byThomas Augusta for the Rams, who remained comfortable with their 43- 18 lead.

The final Ram scoring drive was led by Josh Lumar, whose backup squad initially picked up 20 yards before having to punt. However, the punterwas roughed up and the penalty turned the ball back over to West St. Johnwith a first down at the Braves’ 44-yard line.

With a new lease on life, West St. John’s drive climax ended two playslater when Jamarr Coleman scored on a 15-yard run with 4:35 remaining.

The two-point conversion pass to Anthony Gastearl was good, and the Rams wrapped up their 51-18 victory.

Next weekend, West St. John travels to Ridgewood.

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