by RYAN ARENA

Sports Editor

For six games, West St. John had struggled to find a running game.

In the seventh, one emerged in a big way.

The Rams’ Kenneth Dabney carried the ball 23 times for 144 yards and three touchdowns as West St. John defeated Jeanerette in a non-district game, 34-0.

&#8220The kids played well,” said West St. John Coach Laury Dupont. &#8220We played well on both sides of the ball for the first time this season.”

Last week, it was quarterback Dray Joseph and the passing game that established itself against White Castle in the Rams’ district opener. This time, Dabney, Tyler Lewis and the running game was front and center. Lewis ran 13 times for 91 yards and a score.

Joseph finished 6-for-12 for 77 yards.

&#8220We really controlled the tempo,” Dupont said. &#8220We only had one punt all night. We’ve had to play catch up all season, so this was a different feeling for them.”

Dabney scored on a 5-yard run in the first quarter to put West St. John (2-5, 2-0) ahead, 7-0.

The Rams went ahead 14-0 in the second quarter after Lewis scored from 3-yards out. The score remained 14-0 at halftime.

The Rams effectively put the game away in the third quarter. First, a five minute drive culminated with a 1-yard Dabney touchdown made it 20-0.

Then, West St. John recovered the ensuing kickoff, a squib kick. 11-play drive that followed ended with Dabney’s third touchdown run, a 4-yarder at the 2:21 mark of the third quarter to make it 27-0. The Jeanerette (0-7) offense had not yet seen the field in the second half.

West St. John ran 64 total plays to Jeanerette’s 35.

West St. John trails Ascension Catholic, 2-0 in district, by a half game in District 9-1A.

&#8220I just look for continued improvement,” said Dupont. &#8220Our first goal, the district title is in reach. We will have our chance to obtain that.”