Wildcats lock up No. 2 seed, begin title defense from home

Photo by Edward Ceaser

The Destrehan offense came out on fire against Dutchtown, with running back Henry Lenox leading the way with 122 yards on only nine carries. The Wildcat defense also stepped up to the challenge and stopped Dutchtown backs Eddie Lacy and Kelvin York, holdi

Destrehan ended the regular season with their most impressive win of the year, stomping all over Dutchtown 42-7 to secure their second straight undefeated regular season and second straight district championship.

The win, which was the Wildcats' 24th in a row, was assured the second Destrehan scooped up a Dutchtown fumble on the game’s first series and scored five plays later. That early touchdown seemed to ignite the Wildcats, who eventually went up 28-0 at the half.

“I thought it was a great win for our ball club and we are excited to have won our second straight district championship - especially in a district as tough as ours,” Destrehan head coach Stephen Robicheaux said. “The offense played great and our defense did a phenomenal job of holding their two backs, Eddie Lacy and Kelvin York, throughout the game.”

Lacy finished the game with 77 yards on 19 carries. York didn't fare any better, finishing with 53 yards on 12 carries. On the other hand, Destrehan back Henry Lenox had 122 yards on only nine carries and scored two touchdowns.

But while Robicheaux had plenty to be impressed with after the game, the thing that caught his attention the most was the focus his team showed in the third quarter.

"That was the most impressive thing to me - the way we came out in the third quarter up 28-0 and had a 7-minute touchdown drive to start the second half,” he said. “I think our team is focused on the task at hand and we are getting better every week.

“I'm just impressed with how physically tough we played last week and hopefully that will continue.”

With the undefeated regular season behind them, the Wildcats now turn their attention to the playoffs and their No. 2 seed.

“It doesn't matter what you did in the regular season now, whether you are undefeated or not,” Robicheaux said. “Now the whole season just comes down to one game on a Friday night. There are 32 teams left and we are fortunate to have gotten such a high seed.”

The Wildcats will be matched with No. 31 seed Jesuit in the first round. The Bluejays are 5-4 on the season with their wins coming against Catholic, Holy Cross, Chalmette, Bonnabel and St. Augustine. Their four losses have come to Fontainebleau, Gulfport, Rummel and Brother Martin. Last year, Jesuit finished 7-4 and lost in the first round of the playoffs.

“We are taking on a Jesuit team that has a good tradition and is well coached,” Robicheaux said.

Jesuit's offense has put a lot of points on the board this season, scoring above 40 points twice this year and going over the 30-point mark five times.

“Offensively, they have a good receiver who runs good routes and a big offensive line that could give us some trouble,” Robicheaux said. “They also have several good running backs and use them all.”

One of those backs, Peyton Jason, committed to Tulane. As has defensive tackle Shane Delery.

“Defensively, they have a big tackle that has committed to Tulane and we are going to have to stop him,” Robicheaux said. “Overall, they just have a really big front and we are going to have to focus on getting past them and into the secondary.”