By RYAN ARENA

L’Observateur

Employing an aggressive, blitzing scheme, Christian Life dared the West St. John’s skill players to beat them downfield.

The Ram playmakers did exactly that.

West St. John scored 48 first half points on their way to throttling the Crusaders, 60-6, in the District 8-1A opener for each team.

The Rams ( 3-3, 1-0) scored six touchdowns covering 50 yards or more, four of those in a 32 point second quarter that turned a match up between the last two Class 1A state runner ups into a rout.

“They’re going to blitz seven or eight, try to cover with three or four. We knew that coming in,” said West St. John coach Robert Valdez. “Dray (Joseph) started out pretty hot. After three passes, he was 2-of-3 for about 130 yards and two scores.

“Our kids have a tendency to turn things up a notch in district play. So we’re hoping this is a sign of just that.”

Joseph completed five-of-12 passes for 246 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception. He’d add another score on the ground. Kenneth Dabney rushed for a touchdown and 82 yards on six carries, but made an even bigger impact in the receiving game, catching three passes — all scores — for 163 yards.

“There were a few plays where Kenneth wasn’t even touched,” said Valdez.” We had some one play drives, which helped us to sort of blow things open. We isolated some matchups and took advantage.”

Dabney got the Rams started in the first quarter, scoring on a 51 yard reception from Joseph. He’d score the two-point conversion to make it 8-0.

The Rams increased their first quarter lead to 16-0 on their biggest play on a night full of them — Joseph hit Corey Warmington for an 89-yard score to make it 14-0 before Dabney ran in another two-pointer.

Christian Life (1-5, 0-1) answered via the legs of Kevin Wright, who scored from four yards out early in the second quarter.

Then the Rams turned on the afterburners.

Dabney scored his second touchdown on a 67-yard run to make it 22-6. Joseph would cap the Rams’ next drive with a

13-yard run, making it 28-6. Joseph and Dabney combined on the Rams’ next drive for an 85-yard touchdown through the air, and along with Joseph’s two-point run made it 36-6.

The defense got in on the fun, when WSJ linebacker Xavier

Pierre picked off a pass at the Ram 40 and returned it to the house for a 60-yard touchdown.

Finally, the Rams capped a wild first half with Daylon Feist’s 53-yard touchdown pass to Ravon Owens. That made it 48-6 at halftime.

“I just never dreamed we’d win 60-6,” said Valdez. “But our kids made some spectacular plays.”