Destrehan’s schedule doesn’t get any easier as district starts

Destrehan head coach Stephen Robicheaux had nothing to be happy about after his team’s 48-10 blowout loss to Lutcher last week. In fact, he called the performance “terrible.”

“We didn't execute and the coaches did not have the players prepared,” he said.

Though the game ended up being one-sided, the Wildcats were only trailing Lutcher 7-3 after the first quarter. But in the second, the Bulldogs scored 21 points in under two minutes to blow the game open.

“Offensively, we couldn't finish drives and you are never going to beat a team if you allow 21 points in under two minutes like we did,” Robicheaux said. “That's not to take anything away from Lutcher.

“They're the real deal and are one of the best teams in the state, but I don’t think they are 38 points better than us.”

The Wildcats entered this season on a two-year win streak, but have struggled to a 2-3 record so far. A lot of that has to do with a tough schedule that included Thibodaux, Edna Karr and Lutcher, who all have talented quarterbacks capable of taking a game over on their own. And with the Wildcats entering district play this week, things will not get any easier.

Destrehan's first district opponent, Dutchtown (4-1), has only lost to Lutcher and has quality wins over Thibodaux and St. John.

“They run a wing-T offense and they have an explosive back with Effrem Reed,” Robicheaux said. “They also have an athletic quarterback and a solid offense line who clears room up front.”

In last week's 19-0 shut out of St. John, Reed rushed for 69 yards on 20 carries and came away with two touchdowns. Troy Lewis added 72 yards on 14 carries.

Defensively, Robicheaux said that Dutchtown is big and strong up front with maybe the best secondary in the state. That secondary is led by LSU commitment Eric Reid, who plays safety for the Griffins. Last year, Reid earned Baton Rouge All-Metro and All-District 5-5A honors after recording 78 tackles and totaling four interceptions, nine sacks, nine pass break-ups and three fumble recoveries for a Dutchtown team that finished 8-3 and advanced to the second round of the Class 5A state playoffs.

“The key in this game is going to be ball control,” Robicheaux said. “We have to be able to move the football on them and sustain drives. That's something we haven't been able to do yet.”