By RYAN ARENA

L’Observateur

“This was probably one of the most unusual games I’ve ever been involved with,” said St. James coach Rick Gaille.

Friday night’s playoff clash between Gaille’s Wildcats and Class 3A bi-district round opponent Brusly did indeed have its share of bizarre bounces and anomalies. But unconventionally or not, the veteran coach will take it, his team moving on thanks to a 22-21 victory at Brusly.

Antoine Landry’s 19-yard scoring pass to Alonzo Lewis set up a 10-yard touchdown by Jaleel Steib with 7:21 left in the game to net St. James the eventual winning touchdown.

Brusly (7-4), the seventh seeded team in Class 3A, falls in for the second time in two games against its district rival, after falling 26-0 during the regular season.

St. James (4-7) advances to face No. 10 seeded Patterson at St. James on Friday night.

Of the four combined touchdowns between the teams in the first half, three came on fumble returns. St. James also scored on a safety, meaning there were as many defensive scoring plays as offensive ones.

“It was back and forth, all night long,” said Gaille.

Brusly took a 7-0 first quarter lead on Colby Craig’s 59-yard fumble return for a score when St. James running back LaRohn Cambre was stripped of the ball.

St. James’ John Shepard would tie the game, though, after a Brusly turnover, scooping up Brent Henry’s fumble and scoring from 20-yards away to make it 7-7 at the end of the first quarter.

Antoine Landry finally got the offense represented on the scoreboard on a 1-yard touchdown run that made it 14-7.

But with St. James backed up at its own 1-yard line, Brusly was able to tie the game when Devin Picou’s recovered Steib’s fumble in the endzone. The game went to the half tied 14-14.

The Panthers snatched the lead back on a big play – Marlon Reed’s 43-yard run vaulted Brusly back ahead 21-14.

“Our defense played very well, aside from that one play,” Gaille said.

“Each team had a strong defensive effort. When you’ve played before, your ability to recognize and pursue is heightened. You’ve seen it all before.”

Then St. James received a lift via a Brusly mistake, as a bad snap on a punt led to a St. James safety, making it 21-16.

Then came Steib’s touchdown. The drive began at the Brusly 35-yard line after a defensive stop, in large part due to Shepard’s toe.

He had boomed a 60-yard punt after his team’s previous possession that was downed at the Brusly 1. The Panthers were held to three-and-out.

After weeks of preaching the need to be able to overcome adversity, Gaille saw his Wildcats do just that.

“We were able to keep competing, something we’ve been emphasizing. They were resolute,” Gaille said.