By RYAN ARENA
L’Observateur

LAPLACE — Hahnville coach Lou Valdin claims that to him, his Tigers’ upcoming game against Destrehan is simply Week 5.

Even if that’s true, Valdin may well be on an island with that opinion in St. Charles Parish, where Hahnville/Destrehan always takes center stage for one week every football season.

Can this game top last season’s? It would take plenty. Hahnville emerged a 47-44 overtime victor over the archrival Wildcats in a game every bit the thriller that the score indicated.

Plenty is different this season, however, for the matchup in Boutte this Friday night.  Destrehan has already equaled its win total for  the entirety of last season. The Wildcats (4-0) have emerged as one of the favorites to win a Class 5A state championship after blowing out each of its first four foes – West Jefferson 54-21, Helen Cox 55-12, Dutchtown 45-14 and Terrebonne 42-17.

While Destrehan has awed with its offense, Hahnville’s defense was at the forefront of its first three games this season. Hahnville allowed just 21 points in regulation through three games, besting Salmen 13-7 but falling 7-5 to Rummel and 13-7 to Landry-Walker in overtime.

But the Tigers (2-2) found their offense in a 27-24 victory over Thibodaux, one capped by Craig Ford’s game-winning field goal in overtime.

Destrehan’s offense was driven primarily by its passing attack early on, but  running back Will Mathews has been the dominant player of late. His four touchdown game last week helped lift the Wildcats over Terrebonne. Donovan Isom, the Wildcats’ quarterback and a Utah commitment, is an imposing 6-foot-6 passer off to a hot start. Alfred Smith and Kirk Merritt are each off to hot starts this season.

For Hahnville, Lynn Simmons carried the load last week, rushing for 222 yards. With starting quarterback Dylan Keller sidelined, Logan Martindale drew the start last week for the Tigers. Rickey Preston is Hahnville’s top receiving threat.