Though neither Destrehan nor Hahnville will be competing for a state championship Friday night as the prep football season concludes, St. Charles Parish fans have plenty to be proud of when it comes to their local teams. St. Charles Parish can be considered the envy of many other parishes, considering how steeped in winning tradition each of its major programs are. This season, the teams once again finished first and second, respectively, in their districts and went a combined 21 – 4, both once again serving notice to the rest of the state that many of Louisiana’s best coaches and players reside in this region.
Hahnville went 9-3 this season, once again catching fire in the second half of its season before ultimately bowing out. The Tigers won seven straight games after starting off 2-2, while its offense lit up the scoreboard all season long behind offensive stars like Anthony “Pooka” Williams, Austin Perrin and Devonte Clark. The Tigers showed they could go toe to toe with near anyone in the state, and something tells us Coach Salt is going to have them right back in the thick of things next season. Their incredible comeback win over St. Thomas More will go down as one of the most memorable victories in a school history chock full of memorable victories.
All Destrehan did, meanwhile, was score a fourth consecutive unbeaten season and district championship before finishing as a state semifinalist for the third time in the past four years. It was sad to see quarterback Kohen Granier unable to play for much of the season due to a knee injury, but we doubt we’ve seen the last of him on the gridiron nonetheless. Kristian Mosely became one of the state’s most electrifying running backs. Justin Jefferson and Mike Young lit the field up with explosive plays. And who could forget Destrehan’s thrilling rally against Mandeville, capped off by a two-point conversion catch that got national attention? Jefferson and Macon Clark became stars that night.
That each of those teams made such improbable comebacks in key games this season shows a common bond between the coaches and players on both teams: they’re winners, in part, because they’re not quitters. Down two touchdowns with three minutes or less remaining, these are situations where victory isn’t probable, yet both teams continued to plow ahead, make plays and put themselves in a position to take advantage of an opportunity. It’s what turns an average season to a good one and a good one to a great one. And it’s part of what makes Hahnville and Destrehan really, really hard to beat.
Celebrate these teams, because their consistent excellence is truly special. They win with class and lose with dignity. And they give St. Charles Parish plenty of reason to be very, very proud.
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