By RYAN ARENA

L’Observateur

RESERVE — There is hope yet at East St. John.

With their backs against the wall after suffering a devastating loss to Hahnville, East St. John was tasked with defeating a surging Destrehan team that had recaptured its swagger under returning coach Stephen Robicheaux.

East St. John was also tasked with rallying from a two-touchdown deficit in the fourth quarter against a Destrehan team that has run the ball extremely effectively all season.

But maybe East St. John is a team of destiny. They pulled off that victory with a flare for the dramatic, 35-34, pulling ahead for good on a Leonard Davis 7-yard touchdown run that will likely be remembered by the ESJ faithful for years to come.

No matter how this season ends for an ESJ team that has endured the flooding and closing of its school; the loss of its fieldhouse and all of its equipment; an 0-3 start that included losses to two of the state’s five No. 1 ranked teams, including national top-dog John Curtis; the mid-season resignation of its offensive coordinator, Dennis Lorio; and a serious ankle injury to top playmaker, Dez Broussard; the win over Destrehan provides a signature moment for a Wildcats team that has proven its ability to stick together and overcome.

ESJ coach Phillip Banko was jubilant after the victory on Friday, but was much more measured in his words on Tuesday morning. His job, after all, is to make sure that that signature moment isn’t his team’s last of the season.

“It was a huge win. An emotional win. There’s no doubt about that at all,” said Banko. “But as of 1:30 on Monday, I don’t want to hear about it anymore. The Destrehan game is behind us, because if we want to make the playoffs we’ve got to win the next two games.”

East St. John sits in a tie with Destrehan for second place in District 8-5A. The next ESJ foe is Higgins, who fell 21-0 to Hahnville on Friday night. ESJ and Higgins will tangle this Thursday at 6:30 p.m. at Higgins.

The Hurricanes (2-4, 1-2) are a playoffs longshot at this point, sitting at No. 46 in the Class 5A power rankings with only the ESJ game and a matchup with winless John Ehret to go.

It makes Higgins no less dangerous though, now a team with nothing to lose. The Hurricanes spoiled what would have been an outright district crown for East St. John last season when it bested the Wildcats 20-15 at Joe Keller Memorial Stadium.

“They beat us last season when we had Darion Monroe,” said Banko, alluding to the team’s star quarterback last season who went on to sign with Tulane. “They’ve got a team of warriors … They’re nicknamed the Dogs of War for a reason.”

Higgins seemed to rebound from a slow start after adjusting a spread-based attack to revolve around its more traditional I-formation. But quarterback Rhyidh Wilson was knocked out of Friday’s loss to Hahnville, as well as in it’s 8-3 win over Bonnabel a week prior.

Regardless of Wilson’s availability, the Hurricanes’ will bring a mammoth offensive line to the table on Thursday.

“Their left guard is outstanding. Their entire line is huge,” said Banko. “Their fullback is a big guy. (Wilson) is very, very talented. And they’ve got a defensive tackle that, as far as I’m concerned, is All-District.

“Their size is definitely a concern. We’re not a huge team by any stretch.”