By RYAN ARENA

L’Observateur

West St. John’s season may not have ended with the exclamation point he and his team had hoped for, but coach Robert Valdez smiled as he recounted the way the season began.

Valdez, who just completed his fourth season at the helm of the Rams program, is fresh off guiding his team to the Class 1A state championship game — a whirlwind playoff run finally wrapped up with a 23-7 loss to Ouachita Christian at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome last Saturday.

While Valdez said that his team’s opening week victory against St. James wasn’t necessarily the prime indicator that his team could make a run, because he had earlier inklings that this team could be ready for a potential championship drive.

But it certainly ramped those expectations up into high gear, even if not for him, for his team. With the Wildcats about to seal victory — with a lead, the clock dwindling toward two minutes, and a touchdown in sight, WSJ senior Jarius Moll stripped the ball at the Rams’ goalline from Shaquille Narcisse, returned the fumble to midfield, and scored two plays later to force overtime. The Rams would win on a stop and a Kylum Favorite “walk off” run.

“I watched these guys really grow up even before that, in seven on sevens … I saw that competitive edge, their will to compete. That St. James game validated that for them, I think. It ramped them up to another level of confidence.”

Valdez noted that for his senior class, it was the third consecutive victory over their local archrival.

“I don’t know how many other senior classes have done that,” he said.

That senior class was perhaps the greatest preseason indicator that a Dome return was in the cards. Rams’ senior linebacker Ronnie Feist had anchored the defense in years past, something LSU took note of after his sensational junior campaign; he’d commit to the Tigers early, then follow it up with honors as the Louisiana Sports Writers’ Class 1A Outstanding Defensive Player.

Senior Jarius Moll, meanwhile, was a jack of all trades, one who had made plays as a wide receiver, defensive back, return man and even a quarterback at times.

Tevin Smith, Lawrence Williams, Austin Terry, Steven Brignac, Deionta Barre and Willie Youngblood rounded out an outstanding group of seniors that led the versatile Rams to dramatic playoff victories over Haynesville in a defensive quarterfinal battle, then Vermilion Catholic in a semifinal shootout — each on the road.

“We lost to Oak Grove in the third round when they were sophomores, then they felt the pain of the (first round) loss to White Castle last season,” said Valdez. “They made a commitment to making a run for it all after that. They’ve done all I’ve asked academically, athletically, socially … I’m not just proud of them for what they’ve done on the field, but just because I believe they’ll each be very, very productive individuals in their lives going forward.”

Though those seniors are departing, Valdez said that he was excited about the team he has returning — driven, he said, would be an even more accurate description.

Quarterback Austin Howard will be a junior with significant starting experience. Kylum Favorite, who dominated in the running game, will return as will sophomore-to-be Jeremy Jackson, who ran roughshod over 1A as an eighth grader but battled injuries this season.

The offensive line will boast experience, and while the defense must replace Feist, points are historically tough to come by for the opposition in Edgard.

“My players feel a void from that state title game. Their goal is to win it next year,” said Valdez. “We don’t feel like it’s acceptable to settle for anything less.”