LAFAYETTE – Most upsetting to coach Lou Valdin wasn’t that his Hahnville Tigers were overpowered by second-seeded St. Thomas More in the regional round of the Class 5A playoffs. They weren’t. But a slew of Tiger mistakes negated a number of big defensive plays, ultimately ending the Hahnville season with a 35-14 loss on the road.

“It’s hard to lose a playoff game and see your season end when you throw it away,” said Valdin.

Hahnville’s defense forced three first half turnovers and the Cougars (12-0) ran just 16 offensive plays in the first half. But St. Thomas More led 21-0 after a quarter when it scored on its first drive, then intercepted a HHS pass and returned it for a score, then forced a HHS punt and returned that for a score.

Adding insult, Hahnville would reach the STM 1 right before half but failed to score after penalties pushed the Tigers (7-4) back.

While the Tiger defense allowed no points in the second or third quarters, the Hahnville offense clawed back briefly to make a game of it on touchdown runs by Brian Ensminger and Jerqwinick Sandolph in the third quarter.

But St. Thomas More’s Matthew Flores scored on a 25-yard fourth quarter run to all but ice the game.

STM rushed for 250 yards.

Ahmad White was the leading Hahnville producer, tallying 84 yards rushing.

St. Thomas More advances to face St. Augustine in the quarterfinals.