By GEORGE MAHL

LUTCHER – Friday night’s game between East St. John High School and Lutcher High School was more than just a game to the ESJ Wildcat seniors.

Prior to the game, East St. John had not beaten the LHS Bulldogs in three consecutive years. All that was put to an end Friday as ESJ held on for a 30-21 victory at Lutcher.

“I’m especially happy for my seniors tonight,” said ESJ head coach Larry Dauterive.

Things looked like a track meet instead of a football game early on. After the Wildcats scored on their opening drive, the Bulldogs did not waste any time in responding. On the teams first play from scrimmage, Ellis Hughes scampered 73 yards to tie the game at 7-7. A 53-yard run by Derron Thomas, two plays later, gave the lead back to East St. John 13-7.

“Our running game was much better than I anticipated,” said Lutcher coach Tim Detillier.

Quarterback Dominick Thomas scored on a quarterback keeper to give the Wildcats a 21-7 lead at the end of the first quarter. The drive went for five plays and 28 yards. The key play was Thomas hitting Jalvin Fluence for 17 yards on third down and 10. However, the Bulldogs, on their next possession, marched nine plays and 36 yards to pull within eight. A 5-yard touchdown run on third and goal by Burnell Joseph cut the ESJ lead to 21-13.

“I thought our guys did a great job of hanging in there in the first half,” Detillier said.

With 5:38 remaining in the third quarter, Ryan Perilloux connected on a 31-yard pass play and then ran the ball in from the 10 to give East St. John a 27-13 lead at the end of the quarter. The Wildcats added a field goal to make it 30-13 with 10:41 left in the fourth.

Lutcher added one more touchdown in the final quarter. With 8:16 left in the game, Bryce Matherne connected with Chavis Wright in the corner of the endzone for a 9-yard touchdown strike to close the gap to nine points, 30-21. The Bulldogs would get one more opportunity but came up short when Greg Sentimore intercepted Matherne’s pass to seal the win.

“I thought we made some mistakes tonight that we should not have made. But, it’s still early in the season. I have confidence that we won’t make those mistakes as the season goes on,” said Detillier.

Dauterive added, “Our guys beat a very good football team tonight.”