By RYAN ARENA

L’Observateur

RESERVE — It was a clash between two teams looking to establish themselves under new voices as East St. John and St. James scrimmaged Thursday night under respective first-year head coaches Philip Banko and James Bell.

East St. John’s Deszman Broussard hauled in two touchdown receptions from Darion Monroe as their team came away with a 38-12 victory in the practice.

Monroe, a commitment to Texas A&M, finished the night with three touchdown passes.

“We started the night strong, and we don’t take breaks,” said Broussard. “We play from the start to the finish … we work hard and we play hard. That’s how coach Banko taught us.”

The scrimmage would see the first team and backups for each squad each take part in a series of situational drills, including full field, redzone and goalline specific series.

“I like that format,” said Banko. “In a game, you might not necessarily get into the redzone. Doing it this way, we see what we need to see.”

Broussard and Monroe brought the crowd to their feet when they sparked the night’s scoring on a 35-yard touchdown connection.

“We practiced that play all week. Coach always tells me, ‘Dez, know your assignment, be where you need to be.’ When we all do that, we can come out and make a good play like that.’”

Broussard and Monroe extended the ESJ-lead to 14-0 during the first team redzone drill as the duo hooked up for a 20-yard score.

“He’s a good football player,” said Banko of Broussard. He’s worked very, very hard this summer. Everyone has. But he’s one of our playmakers.”

St. James fired back as its own first team scored on a touchdown pass by Rashann Dennis to Sanchez Zennon on a high jump ball in the endzone.

The second team pushed East St. John back ahead when Gerald Munoz dialed up Jeffrey Wright on a 20-yard touchdown in which Wright shook his defender and found himself wide open.

ESJ poured on another score on its next possession, its third quarterback of the night supplying the points as Andrew Weber hit Marlon Watkins on a rollout from the backfield for a score. That made it 26-6.

The Wildcats first team scored on two of its three “goalline” possessions, converting its first two attempts when Monroe threw his third score of the night to Rashad Green on a quick hitter on the outside.

Tailback Jalen Kenner powered through for a score from 3-yards away a play later, rushing up the middle.

St. James scored its second touchdown when Kenneth Armant got loose on a misdirection run around left end, getting to the corner and finding paydirt.

“I was happy with the effort of our guys,” said Banko.

“We’ve got some things to clean up. But we didn’t have stupid penalties, no jumping offsides or things of that nature … you draw a penalty playing hard to the ball is one thing, but those other types of mental errors are what I can’t tolerate.”

Banko also praised the effort of his defense, which was smothering for much of the night.

“We’ve got Gerron Borne on that side and people know of him. But after that we’re a tough, hardnosed, no-name defense. We run to the ball and make plays.”