By RYAN ARENA

L’Observateur

EDGARD — A week ago, West St. John had to defeat a program with great tradition in a defensive war; this week, the Rams had to outgun a hot, new powerhouse that took the classification by storm this season.

They won a 15-8 quarterfinal slugfest over Haynesville; and now a 54-41 firefight semifinal shootout over Vermilion Catholic (13-1). Add them together, and you come up with one indisputible fact: the Rams are headed back to the Superdome, after proving capable of winning any style of game.

“For myself and my staff, this is our fourth year, and this is the point where you want to have your program competing for championships,” said Valdez, who will be coaching for the first time in a state title game. “Our goal is to get to state and win, something we’ve worked toward all year … Vermilion, these people are good. They could have folded their tent, down 21-6, and they never backed down from us. We had to earn this.”

The Rams (12-2) will face top-seeded Ouachita Christian (14-0), which defeated No. 4 Mangham on the road in the semifinals, 54-0.

The host Eagles entered the postseason as Class 1A’s second seed and WSJ its sixth, and the game seemed to be a classic matchup of size against speed.

But though Vermilion got the track meet it wanted – and has played in all season, as its 50 points per game average showcases – the Rams were undeterred, answering its opposition at each turn.

Valdez said that a season of trying to push the pace in their own favor prepared the Rams for Vermilion’s constant no huddle, maniacally tempoed spread.

West St. John’s Kylum Favorite scored four touchdowns. Teammate Jarius Moll scored on both offense and defense. Vermilion standout back Jacoby Davis also scored a quartet of touchdowns, and Aaron David passed for three scores and ran for another.

The teams were tied at halftime at 27 and after three quarters at 34.

But West St. John’s 20 fourth quarter points proved the difference. Favorite busted open a 41-41 tie with touchdown runs of 32 and then 39 yards in the final stages, reminiscent of how he ended the Haynesville game with a 30-yard game-winner.

“Kylum did it again. What else can I say?” said Valdez.

The Rams got on the board three times in the first quarter as it built a 21-13 lead, scoring on a trio big plays; Austin Howard’s 55-yard pass to Austin Terry, then his 22-yarder to Moll; and Favorite’s 30-yard touchdown run. Those gave WSJ a 15-point lead despite Davis’s 86-yard kick return after Terry’s score.

But Davis would also score the next two times down to pull Vermilion within one, on a two yard run and then a 36-yard reception from David to make it 21-20.

Vermilion had a chance to take the lead after a stop, but Moll intercepted David and took the ball 70 yards to paydirt to put WSJ ahead 27-20, though the extra point attempt failed. David rebounded, dialing up Dustin Desormeaux for a 36-yard touchdown and tying the game at the half.

“Those kids, you could see had faith in their coach and in their own abilities,” said Valdez of Vermilion. “You could tell they had a lot of pride.”

Each team scored once in the third quarter. Vermilion took the lead first, 34-27, on David’s pass to Emile Chaisson. Favorite scored his second touchdown of the night to tie it again, this one from 18 yards out.

WSJ led 41-34 after a two-yard Jeremy Jackson run. Davis tied it up on his 34-yard score.

But then Favorite came up big in the clutch for the second time in two weeks, cementing another big game in what has been a season of them for the junior.

And also cementing a trip to the Dance.