By LORI LYONS

Contributing Writer

For the second week in a row, Destrehan lost a heart-breaker.

One week after East St. John scored late then stiffened on defense to take a 35-34 victory, Bonnabel did the same.

Despite a plodding start and an anemic offense, Destrehan led 21-19 in the fourth quarter. But with 4:03 remaining in the game, Bonnabel sophomore kicker Daniel Velasquez hit a just-long enough 39-yard field goal that put the Bruins ahead 22-21. Then as the Bonnabel defense stiffened, Destrehan faltered.

After Velasquez’ field goal and the ensuing kickoff into the end zone, Destrehan had 80 yards to cover and 4:03 to do it. With 10 plays, including an 11-yard gain on second-and inches, Destrehan quarterback Donovan Isom got the Wildcats to the Bonnabel 15-yard line with a little more than a minute to play. But after Isom threw incomplete into the end zone on a third-and-5 at the 15-yard line, wide receiver Michael Smith received an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for spiking the ball. That moved the Wildcats back to the 30. On fourth-and-20 with 1:13 remaining, Isom was sacked for an 8-yard loss and drew a flag for intentional grounding, giving the Bruins the ball and, a short time later, the win.

The night was also huge for Velasquez, who had a PAT kick blocked early in the game and missed a 31-yard attempt in the first quarter. He said he had “more than 50 butterflies in his stomach” as he lined up for the longest kick of his young career.

“I trust my leg,” he said. “When it came down to it, it was close but I pulled through it.”

But for Destrehan (4-4, 2-2), the loss may have ruined hopes of a trip to the playoffs. The Wildcats were near the bottom of the unofficial power rankings going into the game.

“We’re just not well-coached right now,” said Destrehan coach Stephen Robicheaux. “The last two weeks, we don’t make plays when we’re supposed to. We’re not well-coached at all. We’re making too many mistakes. That’s coaching.”

The Wildcats failed to move the ball on its first five possessions and did not make a first down until 9:05 remained in the first half. Bonnabel, meanwhile scored on its first possession, driving 62 yards on 10 plays, capped by a 13-yard touchdown pass from Trevynne Pittman to Jamal Evans. Velasquez’ PAT kick was blocked.

Destrehan would not score until 38 seconds remained in the first half. After stopping the Bruins on fourth down, Destrehan took over at its own 39 and needed only five plays to score. On second-and-5, Isom found Derrick McGee on a slant in the end zone to put DHS ahead 7-6 at the half.

Isom threw his second touchdown pass, a 9-yard strike to Alfred Smith with 7:38 remaining in the third quarter.

But Bonnabel answered with a 72-yard drive, aided by a 15-yard penalty for a horse collar tackle that gave the Bruins the ball at the Destrehan 12. On second down, Pittman threw a 13-yard touchdown pass to Kyle Evans. Rogers elected to go for 2 to try to tie, but the pass was dropped.

A Will Mathews 11-yard touchdown run put Destrehan ahead 21-12 with 3:28 remaining in the third quarter.

But Bonnabel came back – with a little help from Destrehan. After earning a first down on a fake punt at the Bonnabel 39 yard line, Pittman dropped back to throw deep. The pass was intercepted at about the Destrehan 40-yard line by the Wildcats’ Korian Reynaud. But while on the run, Reynaud fumbled the ball. Bonnabel’s Evans recovered and returned it 35 yards for the score. Velasquez’ kick made it 21-19 with 1:11 remaining in the third quarter.

Bonnabel struck last when a 38-yard pass from Pittman to Joe Este got the ball to the Destrehan 31. The drive stalled at about the 22. It was fourth and inches when Rogers sent Velasquez out for his game-winner.

Pittman completed 11 passes for 174 yards. Darius Gardner led the rushing game with 80 yards on 16 carries.

Isom completed 12 passes for 108 yards and rushed for another 40. Mathews rushed for 117 yards on 16 carries.