MICHAEL KIRAL / L’Observateur / October 21, 2000

DESTREHAN – South Lafourche scored on its first possession of the game and added a touchdown in the final two minutes Friday night.

But in between, it was all Destrehan.

The Fighting Wildcats scored 25 unanswered points from late in the first quarter to early in the third, taking a 25-14 victory at home over the Tarpons in District 7-5A play.

Destrehan improved to 7-1 overall and 4-1 in District 7-5A play, setting up a battle for first place next week at Hahnville. South Lafourche fell to 4-4overall and 2-2 in district.

Randy Roth completed 12 of his 20 passes for 124 yards and two touchdowns. Fred Smith caught three passes for 43 yards. Dechad Ward alsocaught three passes for 24 yards and a score. Ward also ran 11 times for ateam-high 53 yards and a touchdown. Richard Jones added three catches for19 yards. Destrehan finished with 185 yards in offense.South Lafourche had 308 yards in offense. James Rhone carried 17 timesfor 62 yards. Reuben Billiot had 42 yards and a touchdown on 12 carries.Jonathan Hanberry completed 9-of-22 passes for 138 yards and ran 10 times for another 37 yards.

Destrehan took advantage of two Tarpon turnovers to take an 18-8 lead at halftime. With the score tied at 8 early in the second quarter, Donnie Hollisrecovered a fumble by Nelson in the backfield at the Wildcat 41 and returned it 19 yards to the Tarpon 40. A face-masking penalty against the Tarponsgave the Wildcats possession at the 25.

Roth passed to Eugene on the left sidelines for a 14-yard gain to the 11 on the first play. Three plays later from the 12, Roth rolled right and foundJones in the right side of the end zone for the score. Scifres added the extrapoint, making it 15-8 with 7:43 left in the first half.

Shane Leboyd intercepted Hanberry at the Destrehan 37 and returned it 43 yards to the South Lafourche 20. Roth threw incomplete three times butScifres came in to hit the 37-yard field goal, giving the Wildcats a 10-point lead with 19 seconds left in the half.

South Lafourche got on the scoreboard first, driving 66 yards in 11 plays on its first possession of the game. Rhone had an 8-yard gain and Billiot a 10-yard run to start the drive. Hanberry connected with Dustin Dufrene for 15yards to keep the drive alive from the Destrehan 45.

Carries of 11 yards by Dustin Parra and nine yards by Rhone gave the Tarpons a first down at the 5. Billiot took it in two plays later off left tacklefrom the 2. Hanberry then found Richard Lynn in the left side of the endzone for the conversion, making it 8-0 with 6:25 remaining in the first quarter.

Destrehan answered two drives later after taking over at the South Lafourche 42 after a short punt. Roth found Eugene in the right flat for 14yards to the 28 on the first play.

Ward then took an inside handoff, cut right and went down the right sidelines, getting inside the pylon to complete the 28-yard run. Roth went toDavid Schexnaydre who made a diving catch in the left side of the end zone for the conversion, tying the game at 8 with 2:11 left in the opening period.

Destrehan increased its lead to 25-8 on its opening possession of the second half, driving 85 yards in nine plays. A pass interference call on the secondplay of the drive gave Destrehan a first down at its 29. Ward then carried 11yards on a pitch to the 40. Passes of seven yards to Ward and seven moreyards to Jones made it first down at the Tarpon 48.

Roth found Smith slanting in for 10 yards to the 39, then came back with a 10-yard pass to Schexnaydre. A personal foul moved the ball to the 14. Onthe next play, Roth flipped a short pass to Ward who swept around the left side and dove in for the score. Scifres added the extra point, making it 25-8with 6:42 left in the third.

South Lafourche drove to the Destrehan 8 on its next drive behind a 30-yard pass from Hanberry to Dufrene. But the Wildcats held, stopping Rhone onfourth down.

The Tarpons drove deep again on their possession, reaching the Wildcat 11 after passes of 18 and 10 yards by Hanberry to Lynn and Rhone. Again theWildcats held, as Cory Faucheux hit Hanberry on fourth down, causing him to pass incomplete.

South Lafourche finally broke through with 1:33 left in the game as Parra went off left tackle from a yard out. The try for two failed, leaving thescore at 25-14. The Tarpons recovered the ensuing onsides kick at theDestrehan 47. Hanberry found Dufrene for 17 yards to the 30 but threwincomplete on his next four passes.

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