St. James keeps WSJ’s Dupont from milestone, reinforces high ranking with 39-0 win

By RYAN ARENA

Sports Editor

For West St. John Coach Laury Dupont, a win Friday night would lock up a major milestone at home – his 200th career victory.

But the team Dupont notched his first victory against stood in the way.

And after a half, it was apparent that St. James had no plans for a celebration to occur while on their watch.

With Rams quarterback Dray Joseph on the sideline due an injured shoulder, the West St. John offense struggled. St. James took a 33-0 lead into the half and emerged from the game a 39-0 winner over West St. John.

&#8220It was a pretty complete performance,” said St. James Coach Rick Gaille. &#8220The kicking game was especially big. There are more yards accumulated and decided through that than the other phases combined.”

Indeed, the Wildcat special teams were a terror all night. St. James blocked two punts, one of which was recovered in the second quarter in the end zone by Jarred Favorite for a touchdown.

The defense came up with big plays time and time again as well. It’s most impressive stand might have been late in the first half, with West St. John threatening after quarterback Raynard Thomas found Jessie Silas for a 31 yard gain, setting the Rams up at the St. James eight with 3:20 remaining. From there, the Rams took a five-yard penalty after running for no gain.

The Wildcats then sacked Thomas twice, setting up a fourth-and-29 scenario. Thomas’s next pass was picked off by Juarelle Narcisse and returned 75 yards for the final score of the half, making it 33-0 after Narcisse’s extra point attempt was good.

&#8220I was determined to get there,” Narcisse said of the runback. &#8220My team was depending on me. I saw some daylight and had to break it.”

St. James’ first touchdown of the game came at the 8:46 mark of the first quarter, after Gary Davis’s 12-yard touchdown run made it 7-0 after Narcisse’s extra point.

Favorite’s recovery of the blocked punt would result in St. James taking a 14-0 lead, at the 5:59 mark of the first quarter. West St. John was backed up on it’s own one yard line.

Davis found the endzone again at the 0:55 mark, this time from eight yards out. Narcisse’s extra point made it 21-0.

Kenny Zenon’s 18-yard touchdown run at the 9:02 mark of the second quarter made it 27-0. The extra point attempt failed.

&#8220They whipped us on both sides of the ball,” Dupont said. &#8220I’m more worried than anything else about the effort we put in. Not everyone, but some did not show up.”

&#8220We were outhustled and outplayed in every phase.”

Zenon led St. James with 49 yards rushing on seven carries.

&#8220That team will be very, very tough once they get their players healthy,” said Gaille.