By GEORGE MAHL

RESERVE – Acadiana High School running back Alley Broussard proved Friday night why he is considered one of the top running backs in the state. His 37 carries and 253 yards rushing were a big reason why AHS knocked out East St. John High School in the first round of the playoffs 42-35 at Keller Stadium.

Trailing 28-7 at halftime, ESJ mounted a comeback during the third period. Derron Thomas’ 42-yard touchdown run with about nine minutes left in the third quarter gave cut the Rams’ lead to 28-14. After an Acadiana fumble, the Wildcats marched 56 yards on six plays that culminated in a Ryan Perrilloux to Rickey Nevers three-yard touchdown pass to cut the lead to 28-21 with 2:34 remaining.

Things got interesting at the start of the fourth quarter. After a 17-yard ESJ punt, Acadiana drove 74 yards to the Wildcats’ 19-yard line. On fourth and two, Broussard ran it in from the 19 to give the Rams a comfortable 35-21 lead.

“He (Broussard) is a weapon on offense,” said ESJ head coach Larry Dauterive.

However, the Wildcats did not give up. Sophomore quarterback Ryan Perrilloux engineered a seven-play, 80-yard drive that resulted in another ESJ score. They key play on the drive was a three yard run by Perrilloux on third down to keep the drive alive.

Two plays later, Perrilloux found Wayne Guillard for a 22-yard touchdown pass to cut the Rams’ lead to 35-28 with 4:28 left in the game. The ensuing kickoff was an onside kick that resulted in AHS having possession at the 50-yard line with about four minutes remaining.

Broussard then got the ball on six consecutive plays. He made the most of it by scoring from 11- yards out to make the score 42-28. The touchdown was the senior running back’s fourth of the game.

However, ESJ would not go quietly as along as Perrilloux was behind the center. After starting from their own 20-yard line, Perrilloux completed five straight passes to set up first and goal from the Acadiana six.

On third down, Perrilloux took it in from three yards out making the score 42-35.

“The kids tried hard tonight. Give Acadiana credit they are a good football team,” Dauterive said.

Things got off to a bad start for the Wildcats as three turnovers resulted in 21 points for the Rams. After ESJ RB Derron Thomas scored from the five, the Rams scored 28 unanswered points to give them a 28-7 lead at the half. The Wildcats had opportunities to score, but let them slip away because of turnovers.