Herbert scores four TDs as Rams win

Published 12:00 am Saturday, November 11, 2000

LEONARD GRAY / L’Observateur / November 11, 2000

EDGARD – West St. John’s Rams advanced in the state football playoffs witha 36-12 victory over the visiting Vinton Lions, but the win didn”t come as easy as the score made it seem.

West St. John improved to 8-2 with the win. The Rams will play OuachitaChristian in the regionals next week. Ouachita Christian defeated OpelousasCatholic, 33-0, Friday.

Vinton finished at 5-5.

Devin Herbert pounded out a 97-yard touchdown run up the visitors” sideline early in the second quarter, one of his four touchdowns of the night.

However, the real stars of the game was the determined Rams defense, who held the Lions out of the end zone in three goal line stands.

West St. John accepted the opening kickoff at their own 46-yard line due torecovering an onside kick. On the second play from scrimmage, Herbertswept left for his opening touchdown on a 47-yard run. A two-pointconversion run by Aaron Sylvain made it 8-0 with 11:05 on the clock.

First-quarter scoring came fast and furious. The Lions, under the hand ofquarterback Derek Cormier, scored in their second possession when Cormier connected with Paul Simien on a 75-yard plass play for their opening score.

However, a two-point conversion pass fell wide and the Lions trailed 8-6 with six minutes left to the first quarter.

West St. John accepted the kickoff at their own 44-yard line. Three playslater, quarterback Randall Nicholson was intercepted by Joe Budwine at the Lions’ 37-yard line.

Less than a minute, and two plays later, Cormier was intercepted by Kevin Taylor, who romped 39 yards for a touchdown. A two-point conversion run byHerbert pushed the Rams to a 16-6 lead with 3:38 left in the first quarter.

The Vinton Lions accepted the kickoff at their own 34 and pushed to the 6- yard line of the Rams, thanks largely to a 33-yard pass reception by Budwine to the Rams’ 20-yard line.

The West St. John defense, though, stood firm and took over on downs earlyin the second quarter at their own 3-yard line.

Herbert accepted the handoff and shot toward the sideline and sprinted upfield 97 yards for the touchdown, believed to be a new school record. Apass to Sylvain pushed the Rams to a commanding 24-6 lead with 11:11 remaining in the first half.

Following an exchange of punts, the Lions started at their own 11-yard line with 6:33 remaining. Cormier did a three-yard keeper, then a fumble wasrecovered by Coy Miller at the Lions’ 8-yard line. On the next play, Herbertrolled in for the touchdown and, with a missed PAT try, West St. John had a30-6 lead with 4:55 left to the half.

Vinton accepted the kickoff, but on the first play from scrimmage, a loose ball again ended up in Coy Miller’s hands, his second fumble recovery in 20 seconds. That placed the ball at the Lions’ 39-yard line but this time theRams were unable to capitalize and they soon punted back to the Lions.

West St. John took over again on downs with 57 seconds remaining, tried onerush and three pass plays, then Vinton took over on downs at their own 15- yard line with 14.4 seconds remaining.On the next play, with four seconds left on the clock, Randy Hilaire intercepted at the West St. John 48-yard line. With four seconds left on theclock, the ball went to Herbert and he scampered 52 yards for another touchdown and the Rams went to halftime with a 36-6 score.

The third quarter was a nightmare for the West St. John offense. Most ofthe bright spots of Rams play were provided by the defense, such as when Ashton Pierre recovered a Lions fumble at the West St. John 34-yard line. That drive only lost ground and on the punt, the snap sailed over the punter”s head to the Rams’ 5-yard line, where Vinton took over possession.

The defense formed their stone wall at the goal-line and again held off the Lions, retaking possession when Vinton ran out of downs at the 1-yard line with 6:14 left.

That drive ended badly as well, when a faked punt turned into a Herbert carry which lost 26 yards to the Rams 10-yard line with 2:11 remaining. Again, thedefense held the Lions out of the end zone and West St. John took over ondowns with 6.2 seconds left in the third quarter.Early in the fourth quarter, Hilaire intercepted for West St. John at theRams 36-yard line, setting up a drive which pushed to the Vinton 1-yard line.

There, the Lions held off and took over on downs with 6:42 remaining in the game.

This drive turned into the best offensive drive Vinton mounted all night, as the Lions powered up the field in a 10-yard assault to a touchdown. Onehighlight of the drive was a 30-yard pass reception by David Coleman which brought the ball to the Lions’ 41-yard line.

Finally, Cory English hauled in the four-yard pass for a touchdown and, with 1:49 left in the game, the tally stood at 36-12.

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