Area products star on college level
Published 12:00 am Wednesday, September 18, 2002
By BUD JOHNSON
River Parishes football players continue to make huge contributions on the college scene.
Destrehan High School graduate, Jeremy Parquet, was a key member of the University of Southern Mississippi’s offensive line as the Golden Eagles won a major victory Sept. 7 over the University of Illinois, 23-20, in Hattiesburg, Miss. The 6-7, 310-pound offensive guard was instrumental in the Golden Eagles’ ability to gain 441 total yards in the rain against the 2001 Big Ten champions, making its first-ever appearance in the state of Mississippi.
“It was a good feeling,” Parquet said. “Our plan was to be physical with them. They came in here thinking they were a big-time school and we were just a small school. We went into the game feeling like we could run against them.”
Jeremy was selected to the Conference USA All-Freshman team last season. He was a three-year starter at DHS under coach Stephen Robicheaux.
In addition to Parquet, several other River Parishes players are on the USM football roster, including wide receivers Chris Johnson and Kenneth Johnson – cousins who played at Lutcher High School under coach Tim Detillier, and free safety Karone Champagne of Hahnville High School. The Johnsons are both starting. Champagne was a four-year letterman at HHS under coach coach Scott Hilderbrand.
Chris Bush and Roydell Williams of East St. John High School caught touchdown passes for Tulane University Sept. 7 in the Green Wave’s 34-13 rain-soaked win over the University of Houston Cougars in Houston. The TD catches were the only offensive touchdowns of the night for Tulane.
Bush got the Wave’s first TD on a 37-yard scoring play in the first quarter, catching quarterback J.P. Losman’s pass and breaking a tackle to get into the endzone.
Williams caught a 28-yard pass from Losman in the second quarter. Tulane was able to complete only 14 passes on the soggy night, but Williams caught three for 51 yards and Bush caught two for 49, giving onlookers an idea of how much potential they possess under ideal conditions.
