By RYAN ARENA

L’Observateur

Destrehan’s vaunted 30-game winning streak finally came to an end earlier this year. On Friday night, a shorter, but still very significant run ended at the hands of Hahnville.

The Tigers defeated their archrival for the first time since 2005 and did it in dominating fashion, downing Destrehan 48-10 on the Wildcats’ home field in a District 6-5A clash.

Hahnville (6-1, 2-0) couldn’t have been more efficient, scoring on all but one of its possessions – the last, when kneel downs finished the game.

“I never expected for us to dominate on that level, especially in the first half,” said Hahnville coach Lou Valdin. “Offensively, it was about as good as we could possibly play.”

HHS gained 449 yards of total offense and did not turn the ball over.

Alfred Blue was the workhorse, rushing 29 times for 205 yards and three touchdowns.

“He really played outstanding,” said Valdin. “In the first quarter, it was all Alfred Blue – he touched the ball pretty much every play. We jumped out early. As long as we’re having success running with the tailback, it opens everything up.

“And we’re fortunate to have the advantage of a quarterback who puts it on the numbers and finds the open man.”

That quarterback was Brian Ensminger, who completed 15-of-17 passes for 205 yards and two touchdowns.

Blue kicked Hahnville’s scoring surge off with an 8-yard scoring run midway through the first quarter. Destrehan answered via Andrew Wyatt’s 43-yard field goal that made it 7-3 after a quarter.

But 21 unanswered Tiger points in the second quarter sent Destrehan reeling.

Blue’s 2-yard plunge started things off. Then Ensminger capped Hahnville’s second drive of the quarter with a 17-yard touchdown pass to James Butler.

Ensminger and Butler would hook up for a second time a short while later for a 35-yard touchdown that made it 28-3 at halftime.

Butler ended with eight catches for 161 yards.

Blue and Ensminger would each rush for third quarter scores. Lloyd Richard’s 24-yard run in the fourth made it 48-3.

Destrehan finally broke thorough for a touchdown on Kenrick Robertson’s 22-yard touchdown run in the game’s late moments.

Hahnville held Destrehan to 193 total yards, and forced three Wildcat turnovers.

Winning the turnover battle is something Valdin has preached all season – giveaways were was a chief culprit in The tigers’ only loss this season, to Lutcher — and it seems his message has gotten through.

“Two weeks ago, we were outplayed. We don’t turn it over though and we win,” said Valdin. “This week, we don’t turn it over and we outplayed our opponent. I think they’re not realizing that when we take care of the ball, we should come out on top.”

As for the margin of victory, rivalry or no, Valdin was simply pleased with the win.

“I’m sure there was a lot of pressure on the kids from the community,” said Valdin. “They responded. But I’d be just as happy with a one-point win.”