By RYAN ARENA

Sports Editor

Through the first three weeks of the season, the O.Perry Walker Chargers averaged 37 points per game.

Through the first three weeks of the season, the Hahnville Tigers defense has only allowed two points per game.

And in the fourth week of the season, on Friday night, defense reigned supreme.

Hahnville notched its third shutout of the season, downing the host Chargers 34-0 at Behrman Stadium.

&#8220I love this defense,” said defensive tackle Brandon Bornes. &#8220We’ve been together so long. We have a bond.”

The stats truly tell the story here. The Tigers (4-0) limited Walker’s high-powered running game, led by star running back Tyrone Duplesis, to 59 yards rushing. Walker (3-1) fared no better through the air, amassing 65 yards passing on three completions.

&#8220This was a great effort defensively to contain one of the best running backs in the city,” said Hahnville Coach Lou Valdin. &#8220This is the best 48 minutes of football we’ve played from start to finish this year.”

Tigers quarterback B.J. Young was 12-24 for 150 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. Running back Jai Steib led the way on the ground with 12 rushes for 78 yards and two touchdowns. Greg Julien ran 16 times for 69 yards. Lauren White led the team in receiving with 5 catches for 78 yards and two touchdowns.

Valdin was very pleased with the Tiger running game, which totaled 166 yards and kept Hahnville in control of the clock.

He also praised Young, who is making a seamless transition in his first season as starting quarterback.

&#8220B.J. did a great job of mixing it up out there with the run and the pass,” Valdin said. &#8220He was spreading it around and it allowed us to keep them off balance.”

Hahnville took an early 7-0 lead in the first quarter after Young found White for a 22-yard scoring pass.

The score stayed that way until the second quarter, when Hahnville scored thirteen more to make it 20-0. First, Young notched his second touchdown pass of the day, finding LaRon Byrd for a 9-yard score, making it 14-0. Another Young-to-White connection, this time from 11 yards away, made it 20-0 at the half.

Jai Steib capped off the scoring with a 5-yard touchdown run in the third quarter, and an 11-yard scoring run in the fourth.

Byrd also made his presence felt defensively, coming away with two interceptions. He, and the rest of the Hahnville secondary, gave Charger quarterback Garron Lewis nowhere to go with the football.

&#8220It’s a big win in a hostile environment,” Valdin said. &#8220Walker is a real tough matchup on the road.”

As for Bornes, he believes that the stars are aligned for Hahnville to make a big push in coming weeks.

&#8220Everything’s going our way this year,” Bornes said. &#8220Our hard work is paying off.”