MICHAEL KIRAL / L’Observateur / November 18, 2000

BOUTTE – St. Augustine went into to its bag of tricks to score its onlytouchdown late in the first half against Hahnville Friday night in the Class 5Aregional playoff at Tiger Stadium.

The Purple Knights then turned it over to its defense. The defenseresponded by holding Hahnville to no first downs and three yards of offensein the final 24 minutes, preserving an 8-6 victory.

The win sends St. Augustine (10-2) to the state quarterfinals againstEvangel, a 26-7 winner over Comeaux. Hahnville finished its season at 11-1.

The game was a battle of defense and field position throughout. Hahnvilleheld St. Augustine to 219 yards in offense. Michael Franklin led St. Augustinewith 96 yards on 19 carries and also threw a 43-yard touchdown pass toBrandon Smith. Michael Adams had 29 yards on three carries and LawrenceFortuna added 22 yards on seven attempts. Jason Burns completed 2-of-6passes for 20 yards and two interceptions.

The St. Augustine defense held Hahnville to 95 yards. The Purple Knights heldTiger quarterback in check as he completed 4-of-9 passes for 63 yards andran 12 times for minus 19 yards. Skyler Boyle had 37 yards on 10 carries asthe Tigers ran for 32 yards on 28 attempts. Charles Taylor had 16 yardsrushing on five carries. Mark Young added 37 yards on two catches.

St. Augustine used a trick play to take an 8-6 lead late in the first half. ThePurple Knights took over at their 20 and used two 15-yard option runsaround the right side by Franklin to move to the Hahnville 42. Two playslater, Franklin was hit in the backfield for a 7-yard loss and St. Augustinewas penalized for an illegal procedure, moving the Purple Knights back totheir 49. On third-and-21, Burns completed a 10-yard pass to Akieem Jolla tothe Hahnville 43.

On fourth-and-10, Burns rolled left and pitched to Franklin. Franklin spunaround and threw deep to Smith who made the catch over Allen Morris at the5. Smith broke the tackle and went in for the score, completing the 43-yardscoring play. Franklin went up the middle on the conversion, making it 8-6with 1:03 left in the half. Up to that point, the Tigers had held St. Augustineto 66 yards.

Hahnville had taken a 6-0 lead early in the second quarter after driving 50yards in 11 plays. The Tigers started at midfield after a punt by PhillipFranklin was partially blocked. On fourth-and-one from the 41, Landry snuckup the middle for the first down. Three plays later on third-and-10 from the40, Boyle went up the middle on a draw for 17 yards to the 23. On third-and-12 from the 25, Landry dropped a pass over the middle to Charles Taylor for19 yards to the six. Taylor then took an option pitch around the left side forthe score. A motion penalty negated Matt Cummins’ first extra point and hissecond was wide right, leaving the score 6-0 with 10:17 left in the half.

Hahnville had a chance to add that lead as Ryan Keys intercepted a screenpass by Burns at the Hahnville 47 and returned it to the St. Augustine 30.

But the Purple Knights held on three running plays and a delay of gamepenalty on fourth down forced the Tigers to punt.

Hahnville had another chance in the final minute as Landry completed a 29-yard pass to Young on the left sidelines at the St. Augustine 36. But Landrywas sacked by Perry Davis as time expired in the first half.

Hahnville never threatened in the second half, going three-and-out on theirfirst four possessions and not going past their own 33-yard line.

St. Augustine had the best scoring opportunity of the half, using counterplays to move from its 17 to the Hahnville 13 in six plays. Franklin had runsof 25, 12 and 14 on the drive and Adams added a 19-yard run. But MarkBarnes kept the Tigers in the game by intercepting a Burns’ pass over themiddle at the Hahnville 15.

Hahnville took over its final possession at its 13 with 2:49 to play. ButLandry was sacked by Gregory Johnson on second down and his pass deepdown the sidelines fell incomplete on fourth down with 1:15 remaining.

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