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By RYAN ARENA

L’Observateur

 

METAIRIE — The River Parishes have been extremely well-represented recently at the annual New Orleans Saints 7-on-7 regional football tournament, with Hahnville entering this year’s competition as back-to-back defending champion.

The River Region kept the trophy in 2012; the colors adorning the champion have changed, though.

West St. John defeated Hahnville in the tournament final, 34-17, and will represent the region in the NFL’s national 7-on-7 tournament in Indianapolis.

“It’s special,” said West St. John football coach Robert Valdez. “The competition out there was stiff. We play these tournaments with the ambition to compete and win. We do the things we do on Friday nights, with the idea of planting the seeds of competitiveness within our kids real early.”

The championship round was a rematch of the 2011 final game, when West St. John finished as regional runner-up to Hahnville.

West St. John entered the final bracket as the top-seed in the double-elimination tournament. It faced the Tigers in the tourney’s final stage, but the Rams had no losses on their record to Hahnville’s one. The Tigers came from behind to beat WSJ, 24-23, in the first game, but fell in the winner-take-all rematch.

“Hahnville came in with a lot of pride, being the two-time defending champion,” said Valdez. “They didn’t want to let it go, and that’s an excellent football team.

“We’re very eager any time we’re able to line up against a team like that.

WSJ quarterback Austin Howard threw four touchdowns in the final game. Jeremy Jackson caught two of those. Kylum Favorite and Timothy Nelson each scored as well for the Rams.

Justin Bethancourt and Kylum Favorite each intercepted two passes in the championship — those amounted to six extra points for WSJ, as interceptions counted as three points each.

Besides the championship competitors, other schools competing included Franklinton, McMain, McDonogh No. 35, Karr, Sophie B. Wright, Madison Prep, McKinley and Newman.

The Rams defeated Newman, Franklinton and McKinley en route to the final game.

“We clicked early against Newman, then kept it going,” said Valdez. “Our kids executed and played hard. At the end, they exhibited mental toughness. After Hahnville came back on us in that first game, they regrouped mentally and never let that affect their play. It woke them up.”

Valdez said that he and his Rams will go to Indianapolis looking to make their region proud.

“We’ll be representing Edgard, St. John Parish and the New Orleans Saints,” said Valdez. “We have a real responsibility to show strong character and work ethic, to show everyone what Louisiana is all about.”