By RYAN ARENA

Sports Editor

While Hurricanes Ike and Gustav wreaked havoc with the scheduling of prep games over the first two weeks, one positive element emerged in the form of a juicy early season matchup.

 The Class 1A state champion South Plaquemines Hurricanes traveled to Boutte Monday to face Hahnville, after each saw it’s original game for the week cancelled. 

Many call the Hurricanes one of Louisiana’s elite teams regardless of classification, and South Plaquemines took a measure of proving that sentiment right as it captured a 20-14 overtime victory over the host Tigers.

Turner’s 10-yard touchdown pass to Timothy Bartholomew on the first play of overtime proved the difference. Hahnville couldn’t answer in four plays, and the Hurricanes had their first win of the season locked up.

Make no mistake, Hahnville Coach Lou Valdin says – the loss is nothing less than a disappointment for a Tigers (0-1)team looking to get started on the right foot before a rock hard district schedule begins.

But be it win, lose, or draw, Valdin says that his team will be better for having played the game.

“We needed to play very badly,” he said. “I’m disappointed at the outcome, of course. But we’ll get a lot more out of playing 48 minutes against an outstanding team than if we just practiced or scrimmaged on Monday.”

A veteran of Class 5A competition with the Tigers, Count Valdin as a believer in the type of talent South Plaquemines (1-0) brings to the table, Class 1A or not.

“That’s probably the fastest, most physical team we’ll play all year long,” he said.

Hahnville was originally scheduled to face Baker on Friday night. South Plaquemines was to take on Hammond.

Turner passed for 116 yards and two touchdowns and ran for 55 yards. He also plays both ways, which was made painfully apparent to the Tigers when he intercepted a pass and scored from 45-yards away late in the first quarter to give the Hurricanes a 6-0 lead.

Brandon Larousse kicked field goals of 31 and 32 yards, the latter tying the game at 6 early in the fourth quarter, as each team struggled to move the ball offensively.

On the ensuing Hahnville possession, Turner hit on the longest play of the game, finding Bradley Sylve for a 74-yard score to give SP a 14-6 lead, after Turner’s two-point run was good.

But Hahnville answered after Alfred Blue took the Hurricane’s kick inside the SP 10. Tiger quarterback Guiseppe Crovetto ran in from the 3-yard line to score, and he’d tie the game with a two-point pass to James Butler.

Hahnville struggled offensively throughout the game, something Valdin attributed to a lot of young, inexperienced players playing against South Plaquemines’ unique, blitz-laden defensive scheme.

“We’ve got four young offensive lineman, only one starter returning, and we’re going against a team that outnumbers you on every blitz. It makes it tough,” Valdin said.

“The good thing is, we won’t be shell-shocked to see that again.”