By RYAN ARENA
L’Observateur

It wasn’t about competing in a matchup of champions for Lutcher in Thursday night’s Ed Reed River Parishes Jamboree, even if the contest between 2008’s Class 3A titlist Bulldogs and defending Class 5A champion Destrehan was considered the night’s “main event” by most.

No, it was about achieving smaller victories — after being shut out two straight years in the annual jamboree matchup, the Bulldogs felt they just had to put points on the board.

Mission accomplished — and then some.

LHS quarterback Gavin Webster accounted for three touchdowns, throwing two to Jarvis Landry as Lutcher routed Destrehan 25-0 at Destrehan.

Lutcher led 6-0 at halftime, and added three more touchdowns in the second half, all while never allowing the Wildcats to gain any traction offensively.

“We talked about it before the game,” Webster said. “They held us to no points in two years. We wanted to prove a point. It’s tough to hold a spread team to zero. We had to come out and at least score to put up a fight.”

After forcing a Destrehan punt, Lutcher went to work. On the Bulldogs’ second play from scrimmage, Webster and Landry showed why they are two of the most highly touted athletes in the state — Webster avoided the Destrehan pass rush, reversing field twice in the backfield before uncorking a pass to Landry, who made a pair of moves of his own to gain 27-yards to the Lutcher 48.

“(Webster) is one of the most impressive quarterbacks I’ve seen in a long time,” said Destrehan coach Stephen Robicheaux. “On broken plays, he’s a guy that keeps it going and makes things happen. We couldn’t control him.”

That drew applause from the capacity crowd, then it was down to simple business for Lutcher, which marched downfield over the next 10 plays to score, including two

fourth down conversions — the second a fourth-and-five via 6-yard slant pass from Webster to Landry for the night’s first touchdown. The extra point attempt was no good, and with 7:14 left in the first half, Lutcher led 6-0.

Destrehan drove down to the Lutcher 32 on its next drive, but would stall there — it was the deepest into LHS territory that the Wildcats would venture.

After holding Lutcher on its first second half possession, Destrehan turned the ball over when linebacker Kyron Jackson intercepted quarterback Taylor Dunn at the DHS 44.

The Wildcats pushed Lutcher back when Calvin Ursin sacked Webster, setting up third-and-23 from the LHS 42. But Webster dialed up Trevor Englade on a deep bomb down the sideline — and impressive catch went for 47 yards to the DHS 10. On the next play, Webster threw a flare to Landry, who did the rest for a 10-yard score that made it 12-0 with 9:25 remaining. A two-point pass attempt was no good.

Destrehan went three-and-out, setting up the final blow. On the third play of Lutcher’s ensuing drive, Webster took off on a quarterback draw and wouldn’t stop running until he reached the endzone, a 49-yard score that made it 18-0 at the 6:57 mark, putting things out of the Wildcats’ reach.

Dorian Semien added the final touchdown for Lutcher with 2:18 remaining, on a 6-yard run.

“We probably played against the 4A title game, playing this team and Salmen in our scrimmage last week,” said Robicheaux. “We’ve faced two great football teams. Now, it’s a case where we just hope to keep getting better every week.”

No, Destrehan’s 29-game winning streak isn’t over — jamborees are exhibitions, after all.

Lutcher has a potential chance to end the Wildcat streak if it reaches 33 games in the Oct. 2 meeting between the teams.

And Detillier knows things won’t come as easy.

“There’s no way we’re 25 points better than Destrehan,” said Detillier. “They didn’t play like a Steve Robicheaux coached team tonight. There’s way too much pride and tradition (at Destrehan). I know they’ll be ready next time.”