By LEONARD GRAY

DESTREHAN – The Fighting Wildcats of Destrehan drowned the Ponchatoula Green Wave during an on-again, off-again shower, and wrapped up a 35-0, non-district win Friday night.

Wildcat junior quarterback Demarko Hutchinson threw for two touchdowns in a contest which was never really at question, as Destrehan took the momentum and rode away with the game, dominating the entire way.

Prior to the game, one fan observed, “This is the best place to be on a Friday night!” His friend replied, “You got that right!”

And, for Wildcat fans, it was.

Destrehan kicked off to open the game, but after a brief, 2-yard series, the Wave punted to near mid-field.

Hutchinson took center stage and used senior wide receiver Craig Eugene and junior running back Daniel Bickham as one-two punches to the Ponchatoula defense, pushing to the 8-yard line in five plays.

From there, senior running back Eljay Sinceno carried for the first of his two touchdowns with 8:08 remaining on the clock. The PAT from kicker Richard Rogers put the score to 7-0.

The Wave’s next possession went nowhere again and the Wildcats took over on downs deep in Ponchatoula territory, finally pushing to the 11-yard line before a quick pass to Eugene scored the second TD of the evening. The point-after kick from Rogers boosted the ‘Cats to a 14-0 lead with 4:52 remaining in the first quarter.

Ponchatoula’s next possession carried them over mid-field into Destrehan country before having to punt with 1:18 left in the first quarter. From Destrehan’s 9-yard line to their own 41 before the Green Wave took over on downs with 9:36 remaining in the half.

On the next play, though, senior linebacker Eldridge Lewis intercepted for the Wildcats and returned the ball to the Wave 42. This launched the next scoring drive, with Bickham and Eugene carrying the brunt of the load to the Ponchatoula 4-yard line.

From there, Bickham punched the ball in on a four-yard run and, with Rogers’ PAT, the score had Destrehan up 21-0, with 6:27 remaining in the first half.

The Wildcats weren’t ready to slow down yet, as the Waves’ next possession ended after five plays when senior linebacker Keith Johnson intercepted Ponchatoula with 4:31 remaining in the first half.

Two plays later, senior wide receiver Fred Smith hauled in the TD reception to boost Destrehan to a 28-0 position after Rogers’ PAT, with four minutes left in the half.

The first half ended with Destrehan threatening again, this time with a field goal try with five seconds left on the clock. The kick, though, fell wide left.

Destrehan wasted little time in their next and final score. The Wildcats took the opening kickoff, but fumbled the ball away on the first play from scrimmage at their own 33-yard line. This did little for the Green Wave, who gave up the ball on downs after no gain.

Three plays later, capping a 67-yard drive, Sinceno scrambled 42 yards for the touchdown, with 7:08 left in the third quarter, capped by Rogers’ PAT.

That was all the scoring for the evening, as the rains came, but ball control continued to interest the fans, few of whom left until quite late in the game.

Ponchatoula fumbled the ball away with 11:47 left in the game at their own 45-yard line, but the turnover did nothing for their scoring chances.

Later, Destrehan’s sophomore defensive back Tony Kimbrough snared a wild ball and the game itself ended with junior defensive back Sean Smith snagging another interception.

Coach Steven Robicheaux praised the team’s efforts, but noted, “There’s still some things we have to work on.”

Yet, he added, “We’re just happy to be 2-0.”