Ilski’s 52-yard game-winner propels River region to All-Star victory

by RYAN ARENA

Sports Editor

Four records fell in the Eighth annual Bayou vs. River Region All-Star game on Friday night at Nicholls State. The final of the three proved to be the most dramatic.

With the score tied at 17 and only 0:02 left on the clock, St. Charles’ Chris Ilski’s game-record 52-yard field goal sailed between the uprights to put his team ahead by three. The Bayou region failed to answer on the ensuing kickoff, and the River region was victorious, 20-17.

It was the second of two Ilski’s field goals, and the one that earned him game M.V.P. honors over a number of equally outstanding teammates.

“For a kicker to get M.V.P. in a game like this, it’s something special for me,” Ilski said.

With Ilski preparing to kick, Bayou Region Coach Chris Bergeron of E.D. White called time out, presumably attempting to ice Ilski.

But as St. Charles Catholic knew from experience, his kicker wasn’t about to be affected.

“I think he loves the pressure,” said Monica. “He’s been in big games before. He’s only missed two field goals in the last two seasons. He embraces pressure. The more there is, the better he play s.”

Hahnville’s Ivory Washington shattered the game’s receiving record, tallying three catches for 135 yards and a touchdown. Lutcher’s Blaine Gautier secured a milestone of his own, passing for a record 179 yards and a score on 7-of-15 passing. And Destrehan’s Darrow Barnes intercepted three passes to represent the defense in the game’s record book.

The previous records were held by Central Lafourche’s David Ponson, who had 97 receiving yards in 1999 and H.L. Bourgeois’s Chris Jones, who passed for 163 yards in 2000.

No player had ever intercepted more than one pass before Barnes did it on Friday.

Gautier’s 53-yard pass to Washington on the River region’s first drive set up a 6-yard touchdown run by Riverside’s Jarid Caesar to put his team ahead 7-0 with 10:46 left in the first quarter. That score would hold until halftime.

The Bayou Region would answer with 7:39 to go in the third quarter. H.L. Bourgeois’s Kerry Guidry found E.D. White’s Drew Trosclair for an 8-yard score to tie the game at 7. The score was set up by a 19-yard Jesse Turner run to the two yard line, before a penalty backed the Bayou region up. Turner was voted the Bayou region M.V.P. for the game.

Landry would add more points in the fourth quarter, this time with his foot. His 27-yard field goal put the Bayou ahead 10-7.

(See ALL STAR Page 9A)

But with 10:01 left in the game, Gautier found Washington for the game’s biggest play, a 73-yard touchdown catch-and-run where Washington shook off the last man between he and the endzone with a beautiful move. It gave the River a 14-10 lead.

(See ALL-STAR, Page 10A)

(See ALL-STAR Page 10A)

“I saw him open all night,” Gautier said. “When I see Number One flash open in the middle of the field, all I think is ‘touchdown.’”

Ilski’s 34-yard field goal later in the quarter extended the lead to 17-10.

But some unexpected drama unfolded late – as the River Region was attempting to run out the clock with less than two minutes left, he fumbled the snap and the Bayou recovered at the RR 23. The game was tied shortly after, when Ellender’s Hosea Chatman found E.D. White’s Chase Clement for a 23-yard jumpball in the endzone.

But Gautier would drive the team from his own 28 to the Bayou’s 32 to set up Ilski’s kick.

“This was a great tribute to the All-Star game,” said Monica. “There were great plays and players on each side of the ball.”

Gautier said that he loved playing with the talent around him – sometimes, he joked, he even felt there was too much.

“I just had to choose,” said Gautier. “It was hard to pick who to go to one by one. I wish we could play more games together.”