Destrehan ready for challenge of speedy, experienced Helen Cox

Though the game was nothing more than a glorified scrimmage, Destrehan head coach Stephen Robicheaux and his Wildcats are ready to put last week’s 25-0 jamboree loss to Lutcher behind them.

Last year’s Class 3A champions ran wild over defending 5A champion and preseason No. 4 ranked Destrehan, blowing the game open in the second 15-minute half by scoring three touchdowns. Lutcher quarterback Gavin Webster had his way with the Wildcat secondary by tossing for 162 yards and breaking free for a 42-yard score that put the game away for good.

For Robicheaux, there wasn’t much for him to get excited about.

“We didn’t block well, didn’t tackle well and didn’t do a good job of containment,” he said. “Lutcher is a very good football team and they provided us with a good measuring stick of where we are now.

“We have a long way to go.”

But while Destrehan didn’t play very well last week, there were a few bright spots.

“I thought our young kids did OK and Marshall Charles ran the ball very well,” Robicheaux said. “Our offensive and defensive lines also played OK in some parts.”

The Wildcats will need a more complete team effort (and a big game from Charles considering senior Henry Lennox might not play) Friday night when they take on Class 4A Helen Cox to open the season.

Last year, Cox finished 7-4 and made it to the second round of the state playoffs. Thirteen starters return from that team, though they did lose all-state receiver Javon Lawson and quarterback Darius Carey.

However, senior Cedric Kelly should pick up right where Carey left off last season and fellow senior Kendall Scott will join an experienced receiving corps that includes returning senior starter Kirk David and junior Darian Hills.

“Helen Cox has a lot of speed,” Robicheaux said. “They have a great group of receivers and their quarterback is good.”

Defensively, Helen Cox returns both its tackles on the line as well as their inside linebacker and both corners.

In fact, Robicheaux said the team reminds him of Lutcher.

“They are very similar,” he said. “The only exception is that I think Lutcher has a little bit better offensive line.”

 

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