By RYAN ARENA

L’Observateur

LUTCHER — Friday night brings on a good old fashioned district championship game in 6-4A.

Lutcher will host Plaquemine at the Dog Yard in a battle of two teams with no district losses, winner-take-all.

“It’s Week 10, and we’re both undefeated in District. And here we’ll be, lining up across from one another,” said Lutcher coach Tim Detillier. “I guess that’s how it’s supposed to be.”

Also on the line: a little bit of team history for Lutcher. The Bulldogs have a chance to finish the regular season with an undefeated 9-0 mark. Only six teams have ever finished unbeaten at Lutcher, and three of them had ties on their record.

“Only three teams at Lutcher have ever finished unbeaten and untied,” said Detillier. “This is one of the smallest teams Lutcher has ever had, and yet it has a chance to go down in history.

“But you know, more than that, this is a chance to win a district championship. That means something. Some people say it doesn’t anymore, but you know what? I see the district championship T-shirts. I see the excitement. Winning your district is something we set out to do year-in, year-out.”

Plaquemine isn’t likely to make things easy. The Green Devils started the season 1-2, but have since ripped off seven straight wins. It has scored 47, 48, 37 and 57 in its four district wins, the most recent a 57-6 win over Belaire.

“They started the season in a spread offense, which was new. They didn’t like the results, so they went back to what they did last year and what they do well: power running. They run the triple-option, and we haven’t seen that this year.

“This is a team that’s bigger, faster and stronger than we are. But I feel like we’re well prepared. Our predistrict schedule leaves us prepared for these games. Plaquemine has the caliber of athletes you see at Hahnville, at McDonogh No. 35, who we’ve played.”

Hakeem Deggs is Plaquemine’s top playmaker. He rushed for 217 yards and two touchdowns in the Green Devils’ win over St. Michael two weeks ago, a 37-36 victory.

“They’re bringing back almost everyone. That’s how young they were last year,” said Detillier. “So we’re going to see much of the same, except they’re bigger and stronger now.”

For St. James, there is one more chance to secure victory this season and avoid a second consecutive winless campaign.

It comes at home against Donaldsonville, a team the Wildcats came up short against despite a feverish second half comeback effort last season. St. James trailed 38-0 at halftime and 46-0 in the second half, but rallied to pull within 12 at one point. But Donaldsonville held on to a 54-40 victory.

St. James was able to move the ball well at times against a stout St. Charles defense Friday night, but could not crack the endzone. D’kwan Sandolph led the Wildcats, passing for 110 yards and rushing for 64 more.  

Donaldsonville is a spread offensive team led by quarterback Leandre James. It’s a team reeling after a 58-6 loss to Brusly a week ago. The Tigers are winless in district play and just 1-8 this season.

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