By RYAN ARENA

Sports Editor

Playing in perhaps the toughest district in Class 5A, Destrehan has completed a perfect regular season after winning Friday night at Dutchtown, 9-7.

Ryan Rome’s 30-yard field goal with under three minutes left in the game proved to be the winning points in yet another Destrehan nail biter.

With the win, the Wildcats (10-0, 5-0) clinch sole possession of the District 6-5A championship.

Now Destrehan, named the No. 1 seed, will host No. 32 West Jefferson in the bi-district round.

“It was a tough game for us,” said Destrehan Coach Stephen Robicheaux. “Defensively, we did real well against two of the best runners I’ve seen. Offensively, we weren’t able to accomplish much, but we came away with the win.”

Destrehan linebacker Chris Richard scored the Wildcats only touchdown on a fumble recovery, going 50-yards for the touchdown in the third quarter. Richard would come up big again later, as he recovered a second fumble, this time from Dutchtown’s Eddie Lacy at midfield with a 1:37 left in the game. Darrow Barnes stripped the ball, and Richard jumped on it. It allowed Destrehan to run out the clock.

The Wildcats’ Jordan Jefferson was 13-for-21 for 142 yards. Damaris Johnson caught five passes for 48 yards. Jerico Nelson rushed 11 times for 34 yards.

Destrehan’s defense stepped forward every time it was called upon. Antonio Parker ended one drive with an interception in the endzone, reminiscent of the game ender against East St. John. Richard ended two more with his fumble recoveries. The Wildcats held Dutchtown to 13 net yards passing.

“The defense was the key,” Robicheaux said. “We made some big plays when we had to, and held those two running backs to only 150 yards between them.”