Again and again, Destrehan found its backs to the wall against Acadiana in the Class 5A championship showdown Saturday night. And again and again, the Wildcats managed to wriggle free and give itself another chance.
But the Wreckin’ Rams would not be denied on this night. Destrehan never ran out of fight, but simply ran out of time as Acadiana earned victory in a defensive slugfest, 8-3, to earn the Class 5A state championship.
This was a championship game rubber match between the two programs: the third meeting between the teams on the turf of the Mercedes Benz Superdome, with each team earning a win previously.
Keontae Williams’ 64-yard touchdown pass to Dillon Monette in the first quarter proved the only touchdown in a game that provided more twist, turns and drama than the low scoring total would indicate.
“Our kids fought … this was just a really gutsy performance,” said Destrehan head coach Stephen Robicheaux. “I’ll tell you what, it was a brawl out there. Our kids didn’t back down. If you’d have told me it would be 8-3, I probably wouldn’t have believed you.
“People talk about Acadiana’s offense and how it’s so good, but I’ll tell you what, their defense is special.”
Destrehan’s defense again proved pretty special too, even in a losing effort. Behind its powerful option offense, Acadiana controlled the ball for the majority of the game, holding a 30:31 to 17:29 time of possession advantage. But every time the Rams had a chance to put Destrehan away, the Wildcats found a way to escape thanks to a big play on defense.
“We prepared all week for this,” said Destrehan linebacker Dylan Gibbs. “Coach (Malter) Scobel prepared us to do whatever we had to do. We knew based on their formation what they’d run out of it … we didn’t get the job done completely. We gave up that touchdown early. But otherwise, we were pretty solid.”
The fourth quarter, in particular, kept fans on the edge of their seats, starting with a fourth and goal to go from the DHS 1 for Acadiana.
Monette took the handoff and took to the air in an attempt to leap over the pile to score. Officials ruled on the field that the ball broke the plane. But a replay review ruled the extremely close play as a stop just short by Destrehan, with Dylan Whitted making the key hit.
That momentum was short lived, as Acadiana appeared to have a potential stop of DHS rusher Kyle Edwards for a safety, but replay determined Edwards was out of the endzone. But on the very next play, Edwards was brought down in the endzone for a safety – though the DHS sideline clamored for a facemask call that wasn’t when Edwards helmet was pulled off in the fray.
It made it 8-3, but Destrehan still had life. After a defensive stop, it took over at its own 5. Jackson took a shot deep to Quincy Brown, and Acadiana was flagged for pass interference and a personal foul on top of it, netting DHS 30 yards. Jackson and Brown connected for 10 yards a play later and another personal foul on a late hit out of bounds resulted in a 25 yard pickup.
But at the Acadiana 41, the Rams made a big play, hitting Brown for a 7 yard loss. After an incomplete pass and a sack, Destrehan had one more chance on fourth and 20 from its 49 with 2:04 left. Jackson’s pass to Calvin Bullock at the sticks fell incomplete and Acadiana took over, able to drain the remaining clock for the win after a first down.
Destrehan gave itself plenty of chances despite Acadiana outrushing the Wildcats 311 to 66 and holding a 367-140 total yardage advantage.
Leading 6-0 in the second quarter, Acadiana appeared to be set to go ahead 13-0 just before halftime when Monette broke loose on an option pitch for a 57-yard touchdown on an impressive cutback run. But the play was called back for an illegal block in the back.
Moments later, Destrehan safety Tyler Morton intercepted Williams and returned the ball to the DHS 43. That gave the Wildcats life, and Damarius Jackson found Razan Keller for 26 yards to get into Acadiana territory. The drive stalled and Destrehan settled for a Will Bryant field goal from 47 yards. The kick was no good as the half ended.
Or so everyone thought: officials called the teams back onto the field after they had started to go to their respective locker rooms, as the play was under review. Acadiana had too many men on the field and was flagged for a 15 yard illegal participation penalty. That made Bryant’s kick a more makeable 32, and he put it through the uprights to cut his team’s deficit to 6-3.
Acadiana got the ball to start the second half and drove the ball all the way to the Destrehan 4 yard line via 10 straight runs. The 11th run resulted in a second straight Acadiana turnover—and another big play by Morton, who recovered a Williams fumble.
Monette led four Acadiana rushers with 153 yards on 21 carries. Jeremiah Brooks gained 65 on 13 attempts.
For Destrehan, Edwards rushed for 47 yards on 13 attempts. Brown led all receivers with five catches but was held to 19 yards.
Whitted led Destrehan in tackles with 11. Gibbs and Noah Taliancich each recorded sacks. For Acadiana, Derreck Bercier led the way with eight stops, two for loss.
Though the running game was at the core of Destrehan’s postseason run, Robicheaux said the DHS staff knew finding running room against the Acadiana front seven would not be easy.
“We felt like we had to loosen them up a little bit and take some shots if we had them with Quincy,” Robicheaux said. “Their front seven is as good as any we’ve faced.”
Though hurting from the loss, DHS defensive end Noah Taliancich kept things in perspective after the game. He said the Wildcats still have plenty to be proud of.
“After a 4-3 start, everyone counted us out,” Taliancich said. “To be playing the No. 1 team in the state in an 8-3 ballgame, nobody expected that. That’s what I’m proud of.”
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