By RYAN ARENA

L’Observateur

EDGARD – Last year’s Class 1A quarterfinal between West St. John and Haynesville was a defensive war that went down to the final minute. Kylum Favorite’s 25-yard run with 1:05 left proved the difference in a 15-8 West St. John victory on the road.

That was then, this is now. Like last week’s clash with Vermilion Catholic, Friday’s Class 1A semifinal between No. 6 seed West St. John (9-3) and No. 2  Haynesville (10-2) offers a rematch of a classic game last season. The game is set for 7 p.m. at Haynesville.

On the line is a trip to the Superdome and a bid in the Class 1A championship game.

“These are two teams that boast tremendous athletic ability,” said West St. John coach Robert Valdez. “Teams with good size, and teams with a tremendous tradition of winning.

“We would rather it be at home, but we’ll take the trip and represent. We’re very excited and ready to compete.”

Unlike last week’s game, however, this one will feature a distinct contrast in styles. Haynesville bases it’s offensive gameplan on the running game and seeks to slow the game down. The Rams, meanwhile, maintain one of the fastest paces in the state behind their no-huddle attack.

“It’s a battle of attrition,” said Valdez. “We want to hurry up and go as fast as we can … their bread and butter is the run. They live and die by it. They look to slow the tempo and make it a contest of physicality. They’ve mixed in the pass a little more this year, but they want to keep it on the ground.”

The Haynesville program boasts one of the richest winning traditions in all of the state. The Golden Tornado has 15 state championships to its credit, the most recent coming in 2009 when it downed South Plaquemines, 19-12, in the Superdome.

David Franklin is in his 10th season as Haynesville head coach and earned his 100th career victory last week; he now boasts a win-loss mark of 100-36 at the school.

The Rams, of course, are no slouch in the tradition department. West St. John boasts three state championship victories in the last 15 years —  1998, 2003 and 2004. The Rams have also been to the Superdome twice in the past five seasons, finishing as state runner-up in 2007 and 2011.

Haynesville enters this game on a seven-game winning streak. The Rams have strung together eight straight wins.

During the regular season, the Tornado faced seven teams that went on to qualify for the postseason and went 5-2 in those games, losing only to 4A Peabody and 5A Natchitoches Central. The Rams, meanwhile, have long subscribed to the theory of playing up in predistrict play to prepare for the rigors of a postseason run, and played another tough slate this season.

“Ain’t nothin’ either side can really do to surprise the other,” said Valdez. “Both teams schedule tough competition to get ready. When you get to this point, you have to have a solid defense. You have to be able to run the ball and maintain balance. Both teams have been able to do that against some pretty tough teams.”

Haynesville toppled host Westminster last week to advance to the semifinals, but it wasn’t easy. It had to rally from a 17-6 deficit but did so in impressive fashion, scoring 28 straight points to take a 34-17 win.

The Tornado primarily operates through its running game. Haynesville rushed for 264 yards last week. CaVontae Critton led the way with 117 yards.

But Haynesville also boasts a major threat at quarterback. Jerrell Jackson passed for a touchdown, rushed for a 78-yard score and returned a kickoff for another score on Friday night to help key the rally.

“Jackson is a tremendous athlete,” said Valdez. “He’s far from the only one. Their backs can really play. They’re a lot like White Castle in terms of speed, except Haynesville is a little bigger.

“They certainly have a group that passes the eye test.”

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