By RYAN ARENA

Sports Editor

With Hahnville leading 20-7 and attempting to effectively put the game away with a score, the Rummel defense had to make a season saving play.

As it turned out, the Raider defense had several upcoming.

Rummel’s Andrel Johnson intercepted Hahnville’s B.J. Young on that possession and returned it for a touchdown. Jarvis Walker did the same in the third. And Carvin Johnson intercepted Young’s game-tying bid in the endzone with 1:04 remaining in the game to ice a victory. It all added up to a 33-22 Rummel victory, and the end of Hahnville’s season.

“If we drive down there in the second quarter and put it in, we probably end up winning,” said Valdin. “That interception return changed the momentum around.

“If the other defense scores a touchdown in a game, more than likely you’re going to lose. They scored two like that, and we lost. Most of the time when we do that, we win.”

Rummel (10-2) advances to face defending 5A state champion Acadiana in Lafayette on Friday night in the state semifinals.

Johnson’s 35-yard interception return was the first of three consecutive Rummel touchdowns. Johnson would tie the game on offense before halftime on a 54-yard touchdown run, making it 20-20 after a missed extra point.

On Hahnville’s (9-3) first possession of the third quarter, Walker intercepted Young and returned it 70-yards for the score to make it 27-20, and established Rummel’s first lead since it was 7-6 in the first quarter.

Both defenses played at a very high level in the second half. Hahnville had one shot to tie the game late in the fourth quarter, but Carvin Johnson intercepted a Young pass on a tip. Hahnville missed on an opportunity earlier in the drive, as an apparent game-tying score was called back for holding.

With little time remaining, Rummel elected to take a safety on fourth down, rather than risk a blocked punt by a Tigers unit that had been known for its prowess in that area this season. Hahnville tried to generate miracle kick return by lateraling the football, but Rummel’s Chris Randle intercepted in and brought it in for an exclamation point touchdown, making it 33-22.

“The bottom line is we spotted our opponent 14 points, and you can’t do that against a team like Rummel,” said Valdin.

Jai Steib rushed for 99 yards and two touchdowns in place of injured starter Greg Julien. Young went 18-33 for 361 yards and one touchdown.

The Tigers scored first in the opening quarter on an 80-yard touchdown pass by Young to Lauren White. The kick failed, making it 6-0.

Andrel Johnson scored the first of his three touchdowns on a 30-yard run, giving Rummel a 7-6 lead.

But Jai Steib gave Hahnville the lead back before the end of the first quarter with a 25-yard run, making it 13-7. His 11-yard scoring run in the second quarter made it 20-7.

“Steib ran like an animal for us,” said Valdin.

Valdin said that despite the loss, his team made him proud this season.

“They played hard, clean football all season,” said Valdin. “They represented Hahnville with lots of class. I’m very proud, and the community should be proud of them.”