By RYAN ARENA

L’Observateur

Destrehan stepped up on Friday night to secure a win it needed to have, taking a 22-10 District 6-5A victory over East Ascension at Destrehan.

“We’re fighting for our playoff lives,” said Destrehan coach Stephen Robicheaux.

“We’re backed up against the wall, and we knew going in that we had to win our last two. Our kids responded.”

Destrehan trailed 7-0 early, but scored 16 unanswered points to take control of the game.

The Wildcats (4-5, 2-2) outgained the Spartans (4-5, 1-3) 303-173 in total yardage, and while allowing 152 rushing yards, never let EA’s offense get rolling.

“I was nervous about their offensive line,” said Robicheaux. “They can really blow people off the ball. I felt like if we could control the line of scrimmage, we’d have success. Our defensive line did a good job, and that was the difference in the game.”

East Ascension scored the first touchdown of the game after recovering a Henry Lenox fumble on the Wildcat 35.

Avery Williams capped a short drive with a 2-yard touchdown run to make it 7-0 in the first quarter.

Destrehan tied the game later in the period on Taylor Dunn’s 32-yard touchdown pass to Rickey Jefferson.

Dunn threw his second touchdown pass of the night in the second quarter to give Destrehan the lead for good, a 48-yard pass to Lenox that made it 13-7 after the point after attempt was no good.

Andrew Wyatt converted a 20-yard field goal to push the Wildcats lead to 16-7 at halftime.

East Ascension drew within one score after a DHS punting miscue left the Spartans with the ball at the DHS 10. The Wildcats held EA to a 20-yard Michael Stafford field goal, making it 16-10 in the fourth quarter.

“Our defense played really well,” said Robicheaux. “They got all of their points off of our offensive mistakes.

If we keep playing defense like this, then that’s a good deal for us. We’ll have a chance to be okay.”

But Destrehan found the breathing room it needed when Dunn connected with Eric Johnson for the game’s biggest play, a 71-yard touchdown pass that put the Wildcats comfortably in control.

Dunn finished with 186 yards through the air.

“We ran it well, and we threw it well,” said Robicheaux.

“We had two backs over 60 yards. We made some mistakes that hurt us, though. We need to clean that up before next week’s game.”