by RYAN ARENA

L’Observateur

LAPLACE — The Satsuma Sharks spoiled the first-ever home game for the newly established LaPlace Power semipro football team, taking a 44-0 victory at St. Charles Catholic.

“I won’t say they’ve got more talent, but (Satsuma’s) players are more adjusted to our league,” said LaPlace coach Wayne Thompson. “They’ve got guys who have been playing minor league ball for three years together. And they don’t just have an explosive offense — their defense is just as strong.”

The Sharks led 32-0 at halftime.

Turnovers plagued the Power. After a punt on their first possession, the next four ended with lost fumbles.

Satsuma took an early 6-0 lead when quarterback Jerome Evans scored on a 10-yard quarterback keeper with 9:17 left in the first quarter. The extra point kick was no good. The drive spanned 30 yards.

The Power regained a bit of momentum when an Evans pass into the LaPlace endzone was picked off by a leaping George Washam for a touchback.

But LaPlace would turn the ball over again. With 2:53 left in the first quarter, a 4-yard rushing touchdown by Tyrone Evans made it 13-0.

Another Power fumble set the Sharks up at the Power 38, and five plays later Satsuma scored on what may have been the play of the night, a falling, one-handed catch by Sharks receiver Labaron Chambers on a 1-yard touchdown on a fade route. That made it 20-0.

A 15-yard rushing touchdown by Amund Moore and a 25-yard score from Jerome Evans to Williams Johnson rounded out the first half scoring.

“I can’t blame these young men for the effort they’re putting in.

“They’re leaving it all on the field,” Thompson said. But a lot of them are now seeing the difference between high school and this level. It is a lot faster.”

The Power will visit the Louisiana Hurricanes this Saturday at West Jefferson High School.