By Steve Aicard

Contributing Writer

GONZALES – In spite of all the rough weather Louisiana has had in the last month East St. John had a beautiful Sunday afternoon as they destroyed East Ascension 49-7.

The Wildcats (1-1) rebounded from last week’s heartbreaking loss with 35 points in the first half, all accounted for by East St. John quarterback Johnnie Thiel.

Thiel opened the scoring with a three-yard run in the first quarter, and followed it with a 41-yard scoring strike to Louis Lee on the next possession. After Danny Jones recovered an East Ascension fumble on the next drive, Thiel hit Louis again for another touchdown pass.

East St. John’s offense was well complimented by a defense that allowed only eight rushing yards in the fourth quarter, something head coach Larry Dauterive attributed to “being game ready and playing well in the first half.”

As the second quarter opened Thiel tacked on his fourth score of the game with a 20-yard run, and while his fumble on the following possession led to the Spartans only touchdown of the game Thiel retaliated by connecting with Ricky Dixon on a 79-yard touchdown pass.

Thiel finished with 47 yards rushing to go with 197 yards through the air on 6-9 completions.

Dixon, the Wildcats star senior receiver, added the game’s final two scores in the second half on a third quarter run and 57-yard pass to Lee in the final frame. He finished with 100 receiving yards on two catches to go with eight yards rushing. Lee caught three passes for 110 yards, all of which went for scores. Johnny Owen led the Wildcats on the ground with 123 yards.

East St. John will travel to John Curtis on Friday.