By RYAN ARENA
L’Observateur

RESERVE — East St. John won’t host a postseason game, as it did a year ago, but coach Phillip Banko believes his team is as prepared as it ever could be to go on the road for a Class 5A opening round game — in this case, for a visit to No. 13 seed John Ehret.

While ESJ fell last week to Destrehan, 28-14, it gave an impressive accounting of itself against its undefeated District 7-5A foe in a game ESJ led 14-0 just before halftime.

“We played our best game last week,” Banko said. “We rushed for over 200 yards and gained 436 yards of offense. We didn’t execute in a few spots, specifically twice in the redzone, and that cost us. But that game got us ready for this week. It had a playoff-like atmosphere and it was that kind of competition-level.”

John Ehret (9-1) lost just one game this season, in Week Two to Brother Martin, 33-24. After winning its district opener 13-10 over Chalmette, the Patriots dominated the rest of the way, besting Bonnabel, Helen Cox, Higgins and West Jefferson by a combined 221-38 score.

One thing awaiting East St. John (5-5) for sure in Marrero is an explosive offense triggered by a top-flight playmaker: quarterback Caron Baham in fresh off a performance that saw him account for 400 combined rushing and passing yards and five touchdowns as Ehret took the District 8-5A championship with a 48-14 win over West Jefferson.

Baham rushed for 289 yards and passed for 122 in the win.

“He could start for anyone we’ve played against,” Banko said. “He’s very, very good. We’ve played against a number of really good passers … at Thibodaux, Hahnville, Destrehan, all of those guys could really play, too. We’ve faced some top talents and that’s prepared us.”

Ehret’s defense may be even more impressive on paper than its offense. The Patriots allowed just 10.6 points per game this season, and outside of its loss to Brother Martin, did not allow more than 17 points in any game.

“They’ve got four guys on that defense that could play for anyone, anywhere,” Banko said. “It’s a very, very solid defensive unit.”

The challenge for East St. John will be to attack that defense in a manner that allows the Wildcats to ground Baham and the Ehret offense.

“We need to do what teams have tried to do to us all year, and that’s keep our offense on the field so their offense is on the sideline,” he said. “We’ve also got to win the hidden yardage on special teams. That will go a long way.”

While East St. John enters the postseason as a lower-seed at No. 20, it appears to be a dangerous draw. The Wildcats have played six teams with seven wins or more, and were neck-and-neck with higher seeds Thibodaux, Destrehan and Hahnville throughout those district contests.

“Ehret’s 9-1, we’re 5-5, but all we care about now is to be 1-0,” Banko said.