Hahnville sees challenge with DHS

Published 12:00 am Tuesday, October 12, 2010

By RYAN ARENA

L’Observateur

HAHNVILLE — Hahnville coach Lou Valdin knows Destrehan is struggling this season.

He’s also “scared to death.”

“We don’t match up well with them at all,” said Valdin. “When I look at that team on film, I see a very good football team that for whatever reason hasn’t put it together yet. But they’re loaded on both sides of the ball.”

Hahnville and Destrehan is perennially among the hottest tickets in the River Region, a rivalry that sells no matter what situation each team finds itself in. This Friday, the teams square off in Boutte.

But Valdin said that the hype doesn’t phase him. It’s all window dressing to the job that he and his team have to do on Friday.

“That stuff’s for fans,” said Valdin. “Coaches and players don’t get caught up in all of that. It’s for the fans and the students. But for us, it’s about going to work again and finding a way to win a football game. A win guarantees us a winning season, and probably cements a spot in the playoffs. Our job is to find a way to make it happen.

“But there won’t be anything easy about it.”

Valdin’s concerns stem from the talent boasted by the Wildcats on both sides of the ball. While the DHS defense has earned accolades for its play even in the midst of a 2-4 stretch to begin the year, Valdin notes as much concern with the Wildcat offense, which has struggled for much of the season.

“They’ve got weapons everywhere,” said Valdin. “No bad receivers, no bad running backs. They have the best offensive line that we’ll see this year. Their quarterback can run and throw.”

The Wildcats (2-4, 0-1) have shown the ability to move the ball, perhaps best illustrated in its 27-8 loss to Lutcher. Destrehan rushed for 287 yards in that game and controlled the ball for over 30 minutes, but failed to finish drives.

Both Hahnville (6-0, 1-0) and Destrehan’s offenses struggled to put points on the board on Friday. In DHS’ 44-10 loss to Class 5A No. 3 Dutchtown, Mark Trudeaux scored Destrehan’s lone touchdown on a 5-yard run.

Hahnville relied upon its defense to defeat East Ascension. The solitary score came at the 7:49 mark in the first quarter when Hahnville quarterback Brian Ensminger connected with wide receiver Dontrell Strickland.

Hahnville defeated Destrehan 48-10 in last season’s matchup at Destrehan.