A lot of things are different this time around as Destrehan hosts Thibodaux Friday night with the District 8-5A championship on the line.
In their 2024 meeting, Destrehan rolled over the Tigers 61-10.
That win was to seal a share of the District 8-5A championship for Destrehan. A win this time would secure an unbeaten, outright district title win for the Wildcats, who unlike last season are a perfect 5-0 in 8-5A play heading into the regular season’s final week.
But the biggest difference from a year ago? This Thibodaux team has come a long way.
The Tigers had three consecutive 4-6 seasons heading into 2025, and has not had a winning season since 2019. Thibodaux secured that distinction by Week 7, and is 8-1 heading into Friday’s game (4-1 in District 8-5A), its only loss coming to Hahnville this season.
Both Destrehan (7-2, 5-0) and Thibodaux knocked their respective rivals out of the district championship race last week. Destrehan defeated Hahnville 49-28 in the Battle on the River to hand the Tigers their second district loss. Likewise, Thibodaux beat Terrebonne 27-21 to set up a district championship game this week.
Destrehan can do no worse than tie for the district lead after this week; the Wildcats aren’t interested in settling for that, of course.
“We’ve had some very competitive schedules, and the kids are kind of adapted to playing in this kind of environment,” said Destrehan head coach Marcus Scott about playing for the district championship. “We look at it as a big game, but they’re all big. Every game carries the same weight. It’s an exciting time of year and you want to be playing your best.”
Scott said that Thibodaux has found its identity.
“They’re playing fast with a lot of energy,” Scott said. “They’ve had an exciting season and certainly their success is well-deserved.”
Former St. James and LSU quarterback Lowell Narcisse is in his first season as head coach of the Tigers. He guided Ascension Catholic to the state semifinals in his first season as a head coach last year.
Damien Robinson quarterbacks the Tigers, and Scott notes him as a quality player with several strong targets to throw to on the outside.
But the player riding the biggest momentum wave is running back Cemiyan Adams, who rushed for 250 yards and three touchdowns last week in the win over Terrebonne.
“He made some big, big runs in that game,” Scott said. “Their running game is good. It’s hard to focus on just one guy, because all three of their receivers can make plays on the perimeter.”
Scott said the offense has a much different look under Narcisse and his staff.
“They’re doing a lot more in terms of motioning players and varying their formations,” said Scott.
Defensively, Thibodaux has built a wall in the middle of its line. Jerimiah Jones and Kymari Carter set the tone on that side of the ball.
“Those two really jump off the screen on film,” said Scott. “Big kids with a high motor. And then they have the ability to play man coverage in the secondary with the linebackers. They present some issues.
“(Jones and Carter) have speed and power. They get into the backfield and create all kinds of problems. And their two defensive ends are very athletic as well, coming off the edge.”
Scott said the Thibodaux defense is much more of an aggressive, attacking unit this season.
AN ALL-TIME NIGHT – Destrehan running back Malachi Dabney has posted some big statlines in his nearly two season run as starter, but Friday’s will go down as historic in the Battle on the River rivalry.
Against Hahnville, the junior rushed for 230 yards on 24 carries and scored a whopping seven touchdowns in Destrehan’s 49-28 win at Tiger Stadium.
“We had something to prove,” said Dabney. “We had to come out and show what we can do, and take control of the game.”
Said Destrehan head coach Marcus Scott, “It’s a tribute to (Dabney), it’s quite an individual effort. But it’s also a tribute to a lot of guys doing their jobs tonight. Whenever a night like this happens, it’s a total team effort.
“(Dabney) got into a rhythm and it was one of those special nights.”
He’s had quite a few of those. Against Capt. Shreve, he garnered 300 total yards to go with six touchdowns. Over the past three weeks, Dabney’s scored 15 times.
Hahnville head coach Greg Boyne said Destrehan dominated the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball. Destrehan rushed for 359 yards on the evening.
Another big part of that number was Jackson Fields, who rushed for 75 yards on 11 carries and kept several drives alive by converting first downs on scrambles.
“That was huge,” said Scott. “Jackson’s played in a lot of big games, and he knows if they take away the read that he has the green light to take off. It adds another element to the offense. He’s always had that ability, he’s just doing it a little bit more now.”
