By LEONARD GRAY

LAPLACE – Despite a last-ditch effort, the East St. John Wildcats dropped an important district game to Central Lafourche, 22-13.

The win eases the way for the Trojans to make the playoffs, but East St. John must now win their final season game to do likewise.

Chance Blank made the final ESJ touchdown, but it was Tremaine Moore who was the running workhorse, contributing a touchdown on his own.

Indeed, with the Wildcats’ reception of the opening kickoff, it was Moore who carried the ball for the first six consecutive running plays, picking up 30 yards in the drive.

However, a sack forced the Wildcats to punt, and the Trojans set up on their own 29-yard line.

Central traded off between Dorian Scott and Algernon Brown for most of their ball-carrying chores, with a few going to Donald Williams.

Scott carried for the first five running plays, gaining 42 yards in the process.

Following a 21-yard pass reception by Keylan Davis which brought the ball to the Wildcat eight-yard line, Scott barreled in for the opening touchdown two plays later on an eight-yard run. The PAT kick by Nicholas Guidroz was good, and the Trojans stepped into a 7-0 lead with 3:11 remaining in the first quarter.

Following short drives and an exchange of punts which took the game into the second quarter, East St. John responded to the score with one of their own.

Starting on their own 25-yard line, Blank led the squad on a nine-play drive, sparked by two major plays. In the first, Blank connected with Isiah Ellis for a 34-yard pass, and in the second, Moore rambled in for the score on a 12-yard run.

With Blank’s PAT kick good, the score stood at 7-7 with 6:17 remaining in the half.

However, the Trojans responded by taking their kickoff reception on a 70-yard drive, boosted by costly Wildcat penalties. Finally, with 4:29 remaining in the half, T.J. Vedros scored for Central on a one-yard run. The PAT by Guidroz was good for the go-ahead score of 14-7.

In the third quarter, East St. John drove from their own 22-yard line all the way to the Central 14-yard line. The effort sputtered out, though, and the Trojans took over at that point, with 6:57 remaining in the third quarter.

Central’s next possession gained them only 11 yards before punting away. The Wildcats began at their own 40 and again threatened. This time, they crept as close as the Trojan 12-yard line, before unsuccessfully attempting a 29-yard field goal with 9:48 remaining in the fourth quarter.

Central took possession at their own 20-yard line and blew down the field in eight plays, six of them with Brown, including the eight-yard touchdown run. A two-point conversion run by Scott Bellanger put the Trojans in a comfortable 22-7 lead with 6:39 remaining in the game.

East St. John gave it one more powerful try, taking possession after the kickoff on their own 34-yard line and rolling as close as the Central Lafourche two-yard line.

One highlight of that drive was the 39-yard pass reception by Kavius Markey, which brought the ball to the Central 21-yard line.

However, the Wildcats were unable to punch it in and gave up possession on downs.

Central soon punted back, having only gained one yard, to their own 38-yard line. This gave East St. John their best chance yet, and capping off a nine-play drive, Blank connected with Ellis for the 10-yard touchdown reception, with 22 seconds left in the game.

The PAT run attempt failed, and Central held onto their 22-13 lead to cap off their win.

Next week, East St. John travels to Terrebonne to wrap up regular season play.